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10:40 AM ET, January 5, 2015

Ballbug

 Top News: 
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 …
RELATED:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles notes and observations on Ryan Webb and free agent Colby Rasmus
Discussion: HardballTalk and MLB Trade Rumors
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 …
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 …
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:
RELATED:
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Loss of Heyward, J-Up will be felt, but gains strengthen club's future
Discussion: Talking Chop
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.
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.
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 …
Jerry Green / The Detroit News:
Hall of Fame voting is serious business  —  Nellie Fox stood at home plate, a chaw of tobacco puffing his left cheek, juice dribbling onto his White Sox uniform.  He batted left-handed, and he choked up on his bat three inches above the knob.  He was just 5 feet 9 and weighed 150 pounds, a craggy guy, a scrap-iron sort of ballplayer.
RELATED:
Paul White / USA Today:
Hall of Fame case: Gary Sheffield's candidacy up for debate
MLB.com:
How MLB.com writers voted in Hall of Fame balloting
Discussion: ESPN
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.
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?
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 …
Rob Neyer / Fox Sports:
IS THERE ROOM IN TODAY'S BASEBALL FOR ANOTHER TONY GWYNN SR.?  —  “One of the highlights of my career was striking him out.  I struck him out once, and it took three or four of the filthiest pitches I've ever thrown, in one at bat.”  —  Actually, Schilling struck out Tony Gwynn twice.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
Beat reporter Alden Gonzalez answers fans' questions  —  Angels announcer Mark Gubicza joins the guys on MLB Now to talk about the team's rotation and getting Josh Hamilton back in the groove … This may sound shortsighted, but I think the 2015 season will go a long way in deciding that.
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Beat reporter Gregor Chisholm fields Blue Jays fans' questions  —  9/3/14: Dioner Navarro crushes a two-run homer to open the scoring in the 2nd inning  —  Dioner Navarro is a switch-hitter.  What are his splits?  Does it make sense to keep him as a potential left-handed designated hitter?
Discussion: HardballTalk
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Blue Jays complete Major League coaching staff & Minor League assignments for 2015
Discussion: Sportsnet.ca and Bluebird Banter
 
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 More News: 
Jamal Collier / MLB.com:
Royals left fielder expected to be ready for Opening Day
Discussion: Baseball Essential
Jeff Sullivan / Fox Sports:
WHAT THE PADRES HAVE, AND MIGHT HAVE, IN BRANDON MAURER
Discussion: Lookout Landing
 Earlier Picks: 
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
MLB's most interesting people in '15
Discussion: Royals Review
Mark Bowman / MLB.com:
Atlanta sends relievers Carpenter, Shreve to NY
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and Talking Chop
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Lack of payroll flexibility may limit club in free agency
Discussion: Red Reporter and Redleg Nation
 

 
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