Top News:
Jerry Crasnick / MLB:
Former Phillies closer Madson joins Royals — Former Philadelphia Phillies closer Ryan Madson has agreed to a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals that includes an invitation to major league spring training camp, the team announced Sunday. — Madson, 34, is 47-30 with a 3.59 ERA …
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MLB:
Phillies, P Harang agree to 1-year, $5M deal — The Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Aaron Harang have agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal, the team announced Monday. — The 36-year-old right-hander had a bounce-back season after signing with the Atlanta Braves before last season, finishing 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA in 33 starts.
Discussion:
Cheap Seat Chronicles, Amazin' Avenue, The Good Phight and MLB Daily Dish
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Catcher fell short on first two ballots, but believes career speaks for itself — Mike Piazza, a 12-time All-Star and 1993 National League Rookie of the Year, hit 427 homers during his 16-year career, the most by a catcher — NEW YORK — Early next week, for the third consecutive year …
Discussion:
Metsblog
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Jerry Green / The Detroit News:
Hall of Fame voting is serious business
Discussion:
HardballTalk and baseballmusings.com
Paul White / USA Today:
Hall of Fame case: Gary Sheffield's candidacy up for debate
Discussion:
Purple Row, True Blue LA, Let's Go Tribe and baseballmusings.com
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Rasmus, Aoki and Ethier still among Orioles' outfield options — While the Orioles apparently still rate Colby Rasmus as their likeliest choice among available left-handed hitting outfielders, they haven't eliminated two others from the discussion. — They maintain a lower level of interest …
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Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles notes and observations on Ryan Webb and free agent Colby Rasmus
Discussion:
HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
“Mutual interest” in Tillman extension, and other notes
Discussion:
Reviewing the Brew, Camden Chat, HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors and Federal Baseball
Mike Klingaman / Baltimore Sun:
Hank Peters, former Orioles GM, dies at 90 — Not one to show emotion, Orioles general manager Hank Peters whooped it up one mid-October day in 1983. That afternoon, Baltimore clinched the World Series with a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. That evening, Peters learned …
Discussion:
Wahoo's on First, Plain Dealer, HardballTalk, Let's Go Tribe, Baseball America and MLB Trade Rumors
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Braves' rebuild will hinge on success of young pitchers — FOX Sports — Star outfielders Jason Heyward and Justin Upton have been replaced in Atlanta by a handful of talented but unproven young pitchers. — It has become a common refrain among rival executives this offseason:
Discussion:
Metsblog and Gaslamp Ball
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Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Loss of Heyward, J-Up will be felt, but gains strengthen club's future
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Big-money James? Market for Shields is strong, unpredictable — FOX Sports — Free-agent pitcher James Shields seems on track to get a contract worth $100 million. The question is from what team. — Think the Max Scherzer market is a mystery? Try figuring out which team is getting James Shields.
Discussion:
Royals Review, Over the Monster, Cheap Seat Chronicles, HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors and SI.com
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
White Sox prospect hopes to become GM after his playing career is done — 3/13:14: Micah Johnson hits a line drive to left field as Jordan Danks scores and the White Sox cut the Angels' lead to 8-3 — CHICAGO — Micah Johnson's Major League career hasn't even officially begun …
Discussion:
South Side Sox, HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox To Sign Emilio Bonifacio
Discussion:
HardballTalk and Cheap Seat Chronicles
Jon Paul Morosi / Fox Sports:
MLB highly unlikely to adopt pitch clock in 2015 — FOX Sports — Take your time, Clayton Kershaw. MLB isn't likely to adopt a pitch clock any time soon. — Major League Baseball is highly unlikely to institute a 20-second pitch clock for the 2015 regular season, sources say, following a trial during the Arizona Fall League.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, MLB Trade Rumors, Steve Melewski and Baseball Prospectus
Nick CafardoGLOBE / BostonGlobe.com:
In 2015, Red Sox' climb out of cellar among storylines to follow — While we can never be sure what major issues will evolve from year to year in major league baseball, we will attempt to recognize the ones that may develop in 2015: — 1. Alex Rodriguez returns — After serving …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Talking Chop, DRaysBay, Lone Star Ball and Baseball Essential
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Son of former big league star a top international prospect, next in long line of swinging Guerreros — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is looking for big league success like his father, Vlad, a former All-Star. — DON GREGORIO, Dominican Republic — The lonely dirt road that leads to the famous iron door …
Discussion:
Metsblog and Amazin' Avenue
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Yankees finally have the prospects to make something happen — FOX Sports — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has built up his team's farm system to the point he can make some major moves if he chooses. — The Yankees are unlikely to trade for Cole Hamels. But you know what?
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and MLB Trade Rumors
Joe Frisaro / The Fish Pond:
Haren not intending on joining Marlins — MIAMI — Dan Haren has informed the Marlins that his preference remains to pitch out West, and for a team that has Spring Training in Arizona. The 34-year-old California native had been weighing his options sinced he was traded to Miami from the Dodgers on Dec. 10.
