Top News:
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
A Very Simple Fix for the Qualifying Offer — Yesterday, Dexter Fowler re-signed with the Cubs, taking $13 million for one year, or $2.8 million less than he would have made had he accepted the qualifying offer back at the beginning of free agency. Along with Yovani Gallardo and Howie Kendrick …
Discussion:
Tangotiger Blog and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Dexter Fowler's fiasco with the the Orioles raises a lot of questions — Anyone who blames the Orioles' failure to complete a deal with Dexter Fowler on his desire for an opt-out clause misses the point. — If the Orioles would not give Fowler an opt-out, then they had no agreement with him.
Discussion:
Royals Review, Athletics Nation, School of Roch and Camden Chat
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Dexter Fowler back with Cubs: ‘This is where my heart is’
Dexter Fowler back with Cubs: ‘This is where my heart is’
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Baltimore Sun, Yahoo Sports, School of Roch, Bleacher Report, Wrigleyville and baseballmusings.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians' Abraham Almonte Suspended 80 Games For Failed PED Test — The Indians announced today that center fielder Abraham Almonte has received an 80-game suspension from Major League Baseball after testing positive for a banned substance (Boldenone, per a statement from MLB).
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
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Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians to sign outfielder Will Venable, Mike Chernoff's college teammate, to minor league deal — Zack Meisel, cleveland.com By Zack Meisel, cleveland.com — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Will Venable and Mike Chernoff played together at Princeton more than a decade ago. — Now, the two are reunited.
Discussion:
CBS Cleveland, Let's Go Tribe, MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
New York Daily News:
Mets manager Terry Collins says new MLB rule dangerous for infielders — PORT ST. LUCIE — Terry Collins, an old middle infielder, was just hearing about Major League Baseball's new slide rule at second base, and with it what amounts to an abolishment of the neighborhood play.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and baseballmusings.com
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Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:
Rule 5 Draft pick Jones feeling better; former Minor Leaguer Green joins scouting staff — PHOENIX — The Brewers filled out their radio team Friday by adding former University of Nebraska broadcaster Lane Grindle to the booth. — Grindle will serve as the Brewers' No. 3 radio man alongside Bob Uecker …
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Paola Boivin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks-Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry gains steam … Lost in the fan excitement of Zack Greinke joining the Diamondbacks is an entertaining subplot: — The team's rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers will become even more, um, spirited. — Fantastic.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs sign Shane Victorino to minor league deal — The Cubs have signed veteran outfielder Shane Victorino to a minor league contract with a invitation to spring training. — Victorino, 35, has a lifetime .275 major league batting average in 10 seasons. Victorino batted .294 in 122 games …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, AZ Snake Pit and Phillies Nation
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Mets' Matt Harvey has slider moving again after ‘Tommy John hangover’ in 2015 … STORY — Cespedes' tricked-out Jeep ‘like a spaceship’ — STORY — Mets' Tejada praises new ‘takeout’ rule — STORY — Syndergaard locked in with nasty BP stuff … Mets — Scenes from Mets spring training
Associated Press:
Vin Scully Says He Wouldn't Vote Pete Rose Into Hall of Fame — LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully says he wouldn't vote Pete Rose into baseball's Hall of Fame. — The 88-year-old Scully discusses Rose in an interview for the upcoming March issue of AARP Bulletin, released Friday to The Associated Press.
Andrew Baggarly / Mercury News:
Shortstop Christian Arroyo, Giants' top prospect, could be on the move — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Before he ascended to rank as the Giants' top prospect, shortstop Christian Arroyo was salutatorian of his high school class and listed A.P. Calculus as his favorite subject.
Heidi Hemmat / FOX31 Denver:
Teacher files lawsuit, saying 13-year-old student beat, bullied her … LOVELAND, Colo. — A Colorado teacher is speaking out after she says she was beaten and bullied by her own student, and prohibited by her superiors from reporting the abuse. — “I was told that was my job …
Discussion:
KFOR-TV
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Organization Talent Rankings Prioritize Impact — The Jays should have ranked higher in our 2013 talent rankings with Noah Syndergaard (Photo by Mike Janes) — The issue that went to press Thursday features Baseball America's Organization Talent Rankings, a fitting conclusion to our prospect coverage.
Kevin White / KSNG-TV:
Shooting reported at Excel Industries in Hesston — HESSTON, Kan. - Law enforcement officers are responding to the scene of a workplace shooting at Excel Industries in Hesston with reports of multiple fatalities and others wounded. — KSN has confirmed there are two individuals who were pronounced dead …
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Ksn Tv / KSNG-TV:
1 dead, “up to 20 injured” in shooting at Excel Industries in Hesston
1 dead, “up to 20 injured” in shooting at Excel Industries in Hesston
Discussion:
WHTM-TV