Top News:
Evan Drellich / Boston Herald:
Former trainer says Pablo Sandoval needs baby sitter to control weight — When Pablo Sandoval went home to Venezuela for Christmas in 2011, he gained so much weight so quickly — 21 pounds in 21 days — that when he returned to work out in Phoenix, his personal trainer did everything possible …
Discussion:
ESPN, Halos Heaven and Full Count
RELATED:
Yahoo Sports:
The Pablo Sandoval-Red Sox marriage could be coming to an end — The broken, disastrous marriage between Pablo Sandoval and the Boston Red Sox, an ill-fated union exceeded in its dysfunction only by a Kardashian coupling, could be nearing its end. Here's how ugly it has gotten …
Evan Drellich / Boston Herald:
Red Sox notebook: Christian Vazquez recall begs questions — Catcher Christian Vazquez' return brings stability behind the plate for the Red Sox but leaves questions about how the team will handle the man he appears to be replacing, Blake Swihart. — Vazquez, a great receiver and thrower …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Over the Monster
ESPN:
Phillies rookie Daniel Stumpf suspended 80 games for PEDs — Philadelphia Phillies rookie left-hander Daniel Stumpf was suspended 80 games Thursday for violating Major League Baseball's policy against performance-enhancing drugs. — Stumpf tested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, MLB said.
RELATED:
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies pitcher Daniel Stumpf suspended for PED use
Phillies pitcher Daniel Stumpf suspended for PED use
Discussion:
Crashburn Alley
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Reliever Daniel Stumpf Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
Phillies Reliever Daniel Stumpf Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Emily Smith / Page Six:
Johnny Manziel accused of trashing pad with ‘booze and drug-filled’ ragers — Johnny Manziel and a picture of the rented Los Angeles he and his friends trashed Photo: Clockwise: AKM-GSI (2), Splash News — MORE FROM: — Call it a case of affluenza. Rich-kid quarterback Johnny Manziel's facing …
Discussion:
NESN.com, The Daily Caller, The Big Lead, Dallas Morning News, ProFootballTalk and Sportsnet.ca
Vince Lara-Cinisomo / Baseball America:
Leyland To Manage USA WBC Team In 2017 — Three-time Manager of the Year Jim Leyland will manage Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in 2017, USA Baseball said Friday. — Leyland, 71, managed the Pirates, Marlins, Rockies and Tigers from 1986-2013 before stepping down in October 2013 …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Bless You Boys
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Orioles Claim Scott McGough From Marlins — The Orioles have claimed right-hander Scott McGough off waivers from the Marlins, the club announced (on Twitter). The 26-year-old McGough was designated for assignment yesterday after Baltimore claimed lefty Eric Jokisch from the Cubs.
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Javier Baez gets called up by Chicago Cubs — Javier Baez was originally scheduled to travel with the Iowa Cubs to continue his rehabilitation assignment. — There's been a change of plans. — A source close to the situation told the Register Thursday that Baez was headed back to Chicago — ending his rehab assignment with Iowa.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bleed Cubbie Blue and Bleacher Nation
Billy Witz / New York Times:
Yankees' Offensive Malaise Puts Scrutiny on Alex Rodriguez — TORONTO — As baseball players age, the skills that got them to the big leagues gradually erode. Pitchers whose high heat abandons them must learn to make the ball dart and dance. Hitters whose reflexes no longer allow …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
George A. King III / New York Post:
The details of Yankees' Dellin Betances discount are stunning — TORONTO — Dellin Betances might be the best closer in baseball, though he isn't closing for the Yankees. — Today, he is the Yankees' eighth-inning guy as Andrew Miller handles the final three outs.
Discussion:
Bronx and River Avenue Blues
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Marco Gonzales will miss entire season — The Cardinals had prided themselves this spring on their starting depth. They knew they had five veterans in hand and then a handful of young lefthanders in Tyler Lyons, Marco Gonzales and Tim Cooney, plus suspended righthander Alex Reyes.
Discussion:
SI.com
Ian Crouch / New Yorker:
“Game 7, 1986” and the Moments After the Moment That Everyone Remembers — When considering the unfortunate underperformers of the 1986 World Series, between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox, the pitcher Ron Darling probably does not come to mind. — For one thing, he was on the Mets …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wong sits again but 'it's not a punishment' — Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, who already had missed one start, was down again Wednesday. Wong had a three-hit game and reached base five times Saturday but then he went nothing for nine over the next two games.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish