Top News:
Alex Pavlovic / Boston Herald:
Giants pitcher Barry Zito encouraged to watch Jamie Moyer — SURPRISE, Ariz. - The San Francisco Giants were shut out by Colorado Rockies left-hander Jamie Moyer twice this spring, and the clubhouse consensus was that it might be best if the team didn't see Moyer again for a while.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
AJ Cassavell / MLB.com:
Moyer named No. 2 starter in Rox rotation — Tracy tabs 49-year-old lefty to pitch April 7 at Houston — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — At 49, Jamie Moyer is still defying the baseball logic of both age and velocity. — Rockies manager Jim Tracy announced on Friday that Moyer …
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive …
Troy Renck / On the Rox:
Rockies' Pomeranz will be skipped until 15th, cementing Moyer's spot
Rockies' Pomeranz will be skipped until 15th, cementing Moyer's spot
Discussion:
Purple Row
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Braves held to RBI double in loss to Astros — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Bud Norris allowed four hits and one run in six strong innings in his final start of the Grapefruit League season and Chris Johnson had a pair of RBIs to lead the split-squad Astros to a 5-1 win over the split-squad Braves on Friday night at Osceola County Stadium.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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MLB:
Source: Braves get Livan Hernandez — The Atlanta Braves have reached agreement on a deal with right-hander Livan Hernandez, a source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. — The move comes hours after the Houston Astros released baseball's active leader in starts and innings from his minor league contract.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Yahoo! Sports and Associated Press
Zach Links / MLB Rumors:
Royals, Alex Gordon Agree To Extension — 6:10pm: The deal is worth $37.5MM over four years with a player option for 2016 at $12.5MM, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Gordon will earn $6MM for 2012, $9MM for 2013, $10MM for 2014, and $12.5MM for 2015, Dutton tweets.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Royals Review and Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Gordon agrees to new four-year contract for guaranteed $37.5 million — SURPRISE, ARIZ. — Here, finally, is some good news for the Royals — and their fans — after a series of injuries to key players. Left fielder Alex Gordon agreed Friday to a new four-year contract for a guaranteed $37.5 million.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Wallace Matthews / ESPN:
TAMPA — New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda said he felt “a little sore” in the back of his right shoulder during an abbreviated outing Friday night in which he allowed six runs in 2-2/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. — As ominous as that sounds, it was unclear if Pineda is injured or …
Discussion:
New York Times and Lookout Landing
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Phillies grab big lead, can't hold off Yankees — TAMPA, Fla. — Michael Pineda's chances of breaking camp in the Yankees' rotation took a hit on Friday as the young right-hander was chased in the third inning of a 13-9 victory over the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Trout sent to Triple-A amidst trying spring — TEMPE, Ariz. — The Angels optioned star prospect Mike Trout — as well as long-shot rotation candidate Brad Mills — to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday. — The move offered little in the way of surprise. All it did was signal the end …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
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Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
NY Mets front office considered releasing Michael Pelfrey before Opening Day — Pelfrey follows news with strongest outing on Thursday, allowing one run in 6.1 innings — Michael Pelfrey's future with the Mets may not last past this season, as sources say the team considered cutting the righthander before Opening Day.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, MetsBlog.com, HardballTalk and Kranepool Society
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Dickey wants Mets to pick up option now
Dickey wants Mets to pick up option now
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and MetsBlog.com
Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com:
Cabrera returns with two doubles in victory — Tigers rally past Orioles behind Plagman's homer, triple — SARASOTA, Fla. — Tigers reserve outfielder Tony Plagman homered in the seventh to tie the score, then tripled home the go-ahead runs in the ninth to steal the spotlight …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Associated Press:
Darvish strikes out 11 in Rangers' 5-3 win — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish did just fine without a scouting report on the Colorado Rockies. — He struck out 11 in six innings in a 5-3 victory over the Rockies on Friday night. He allowed three runs and six hits and walked one.
Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Ted Lilly to open season on DL — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Ted Lilly will begin the regular season on the 15-day disabled list as a result of neck stiffness that knocked him out of his most recent Cactus League start, manager Don Mattingly said after Friday's split-squad, 9-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Gordon, Loney lead way against Cubs — MESA, Ariz. — Dee Gordon hit a two-run triple and scored on James Loney's single to lift the Dodgers' split squad to a 6-3 victory Friday over Ryan Dempster and the Cubs. — With the game tied, 1-1, the Dodgers had two on and one out in the seventh against Manuel Corpas.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue