Top News:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles, Yovani Gallardo Agree To Restructured Deal — 6:24pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the option would bring the deal's total value to $33MM, if exercised. Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports that Gallardo will earn $9MM in 2016 and $11MM in 2017 (Twitter link).
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Camden Depot, School of Roch, Camden Chat and World Series Dreaming
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Yovani Gallardo had little choice but to take Baltimore's revised deal — OK, I was wrong. There will be no case of the Orioles vs. Yovani Gallardo. The Orioles got what they wanted Wednesday night, persuading Gallardo to accept a restructured two-year deal with an option rather …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Peter Gammons / GammonsDaily.com:
Gallardo, the Orioles, and what Showalter and Belichick have in common
Gallardo, the Orioles, and what Showalter and Belichick have in common
Discussion:
Cards Conclave, Over the Monster and MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Red Sox Owner: ‘We Were Reliant Too Heavily on Analytics’ — FORT MYERS, Fla. — After their new players added up to another last-place finish, the owner of the Boston Red Sox figured out the team's math was wrong. — “I think we were reliant too heavily on analytics,” John Henry said Wednesday.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
David Ortiz makes a final plea to Yankees fans
David Ortiz makes a final plea to Yankees fans
Discussion:
NESN.com, Bleacher Report, NBCSports.com, CBS New York and River Avenue Blues
Rick Osentoski / Fox Sports:
Miguel Cabrera could start at third base on opening day — The Detroit Tigers open up their season against the Miami Marlins, leaving the team without a designated hitter. — As a result, manager Brad Ausmus is keeping his options open — including starting Miguel Cabrera at third base:
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Tom Ricketts, Cubs have little to hide — Chicago Tribune — Chicago Cubs Owner Tom Ricketts emphasized his preference to re-sign President Theo Epstein while stressing he and his family had nothing to hide regarding a threatening tweet by presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune, DNAinfo Chicago, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Bleacher Nation and Yahoo Sports
Vocativ:
What's It Like To Be A Baseball Journeyman? — 540-mile road trips, living like a vagabond, and family stress are all part of the deal
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Braves Sign Cuban Pitcher Carlos Portuondo — The Braves have signed 28-year-old Cuban righthander Carlos Portuondo to a minor league contract with a $990,000 bonus, according to international sources. Portuondo is exempt from the international bonus pools, so he's able …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Talking Chop, MLB Trade Rumors and Fox Sports
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Ruben Tejada Awarded Extra Service Time, Will Be Free Agent Next Winter — As part of his arbitration settlement this offseason, the Mets awarded shortstop Ruben Tejada with an extra day of service time, reports Ken Davidoff of the New York Post (via Twitter).
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, NBCSports.com and Amazin' Avenue
Associated Press:
Mike Trout Committed to Stealing More Bases Again for Angels — TEMPE, Ariz. — Mike Trout wants to take a swipe at something else this season — stealing bases, the way he once did. — The Los Angeles Angels' do-everything star got off to a fast start in his 2012 AL Rookie of the Year season with 49 steals.
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers To Sign Jamey Wright To Minors Contract — The Dodgers have signed veteran right-hander Jamey Wright to a minor league deal, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports (Twitter link). The contract contains an invitation to the team's Major League spring camp. The 41-year-old Wright is represented by Excel Sports Management.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and True Blue LA
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Uncertain future of Jose Reyes means prospect gets chance to break with team — The Denver Post — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After 537 games, 2,061 at-bats and 70 home runs in the minors, Trevor Story is pounding on the major-league door. But if he wants to leave spring training …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Guy Molyneux / Baseball Prospectus:
Umpires Aren't Compassionate; They're Bayesian — Baseball fans have long known, or at least suspected, that umpires call balls and strikes differently as the count changes. At 0-2, it seems that almost any taken pitch that is not right down the middle will be called a ball …
Rick Westhead / TSN:
Sources: Bautista's demand is five years, $150M — Toronto Blue Jays' all-star outfielder Jose Bautista is demanding a five-year contract extension worth more than $30 million per year, two sources familiar with the matter told TSN. — Bautista turns 36 in October and a $150-million contract …
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Cincinnati.com:
What's up with Jay Bruce trade saga?
What's up with Jay Bruce trade saga?
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USA Today, Yahoo Sports, ESPN, MLB Trade Rumors and Red Reporter