Question of the Day: Is Ibanez a fit in Bronx?
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:50:29 -0500)


Kershaw inks two-year deal, avoids hearing
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:15:00 -0500)
National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed Tuesday on a two-year, $19 million contract to avoid salary arbitration.

Hall signs Minor League deal with Yankees
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:18:00 -0500)
The Yankees have signed utility infielder Bill Hall to a Minor League deal.

Harper confident he can make club this spring
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:04:00 -0500)
How did Bryce Harper feel after hearing manager Davey Johnson is going to give him every chance to make the club? "I feel really positive about going to Spring Training this year," Harper said. "I really feel I have a legit shot at making the club."

Meggie: Green Diamond a memorabilia experience
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:02:00 -0500)
I was recently contacted by the Green Diamond Gallery in Montgomery, Ohio, with an invitation for me to introduce Cincinnati Reds hometown hero Sean Casey for an event. I immediately accepted.

Melvin earns spot in Canadian Hall of Fame
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:24:00 -0500)
Brewers general manager and pride of Chatham, Ontario Doug Melvin will be inducted this summer into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, a body that already includes his baseball heroes.

Veteran Wright signed to Minor League deal
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:15:00 -0500)
The Dodgers on Tuesday signed veteran right-handed pitcher Jamey Wright to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training camp.

Romero welcomes, embraces ace label
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:45:00 -0500)
Ricky Romero is set to embark on just his fourth season in the big leagues, but he already has become the veteran leader of the Blue Jays' pitching staff.

Hot Stove MLBlog: News, notes and analysis
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:23:00 -0500)
The offseason maneuvering is in full swing. Stay up on all the trades, signings, rumors and analysis with the Hot Stove MLBlog.

Jocketty: Reds not pursuing Oswalt
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:05:00 -0500)
Speculation that aggressive Cincinnati has been in talks to sign free agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt has heated up repeatedly in recent days. Not true, general manager Walt Jocketty claimed emphatically on Tuesday.

LaCassa, Morris embark on promising careers
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:36:00 -0500)
Before taking their newly assigned front-office jobs with the Angels, Hal Morris and Mike LaCassa went the school route. Now, both are taking on new challenges in different ways.

Cespedes to meet with Marlins on Wednesday
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:30:00 -0500)
Cuban sensation Yoenis Cespedes has received a travel visa and is scheduled to meet with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, according to sources.

Dodgers' progress plan not only about Robinson
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:50:00 -0500)
The Dodgers were front and center in breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, but the early movement involved more than Jackie Robinson.

Mills steering ship amidst winds of change
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:47:00 -0500)
Brad Mills, entering his third season as manager of the Astros, remains the man in charge of the Astros' rebuilding process. It's a difficult task.

AL East prospect talk starts with No. 1 Moore
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:00:00 -0500)
Who are the best prospects in each organization? Which Minor Leaguers should you get the most excited about seeing on your favorite team? Now it's just a click away, with the rankings of the Top 20 prospects for each club unveiled this week.

Jenkins' 1974 season stands in history books
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:32:00 -0500)
The Oakland Athletics won their third straight World Series in 1974 but there was one pitcher they couldn't beat. Ferguson Jenkins, pitching for the Rangers, was 5-0 with a 0.60 ERA, five complete games and two shutouts in five starts against them.

Bauman: NL should stay traditional, without DH
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500)
The notion that the National League needs to add the designated-hitter rule so that its clubs can wildly overpay sluggers on the downside of their careers is almost painful to ponder, writes Mike Bauman.

Spencer: Zobrist a jack-of-all-trades player
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500)
Ben Zobrist is one of the last names you'll find in the Baseball Encyclopedia, but he's near, or at the top, in several highly subjective categories: best all-around defender and most versatile player in the game.

Teen's research brings Negro Leagues to life
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500)
Cam Perron, a 17-year-old high school senior from Arlington, Mass., is an Internet-savvy sleuth who has tracked down dozens of Negro League players whose stories have never been told.

Madonna to perform at Yankee Stadium
(Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:28:00 -0500)
Fresh off her Super Bowl XLVI performance at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Madonna will perform at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 6, the Yankees announced on Monday.

Atchison clears waivers, is outrighted to Triple-A
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:09:00 -0500)
The Red Sox announced on Monday that right-hander Scott Atchison has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Atchison, who turns 36 in March, has received an invitation to big league camp.

Pedro's focus shifts to foundation, Hall call
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:25:00 -0500)
Pedro Martinez threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Monday night's Caribbean Series game between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, and spoke to MLB.com about the Hall of Fame, his foundation and the future of Johan Santana.

Dirks' standout play makes him a star in D.R.
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:07:00 -0500)
Detroit outfielder Andy Dirks is a rock star in the Dominican Republic. He can't walk out of the hotel room where he is living this week without fans asking to take a photo with him or get his autograph. As a member of the Dominican Republic's Escogido squad, he's also a Caribbean Series champion.

Rox acquire Guthrie in trade with Orioles
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:29:00 -0500)
The Rockies were looking for an experienced arm to put atop their young rotation, but not just any veteran would do. One of those few names was Jeremy Guthrie, whom the Rockies acquired from the Orioles on Monday in exchange for right-handers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom.

Astros invite prospects to camp, sign Ruggiano
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:14:00 -0500)
The Astros added six more players to their Spring Training roster on Monday, signing free-agent outfielder Justin Ruggiano to a Minor League contract and inviting five of their top prospects to Major League camp.

Contract won't dampen Sandoval's motivation
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:37:00 -0500)
Pablo Sandoval intends to reward the Giants' faith in him. Apparently destined to struggle with controlling his weight for the remainder of his Major League career, Sandoval still parlayed his considerable skill into a three-year, $17.15 million contract that he agreed to Jan. 17.

Around the Horn: Outfielders
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:13:00 -0500)
The following is the sixth in a series at cardinals.com examining the 2012 Cardinals, unit by unit. Today: Outfielders.

Dodgers designate Mitchell for assignment
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:37:00 -0500)
The Dodgers on Monday designated for assignment infielder Russell Mitchell to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever Todd Coffey, who signed Friday as a free agent.

Pirates to renew emphasis on conditioning
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:34:00 -0500)
The Bucs have hired not one but two strength and conditioning coaches. Ben Potenziano, the Giants' strength and conditioning coach the previous six seasons, has taken over as the Pirates' assistant athletic trainer. And Brendon Huttman, the Dodgers' strength and conditioning coach since 2008, has assumed the same position with the Pirates.

Cubs claim Cardenas, designate DeWitt
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:16:00 -0500)
The Cubs claimed infielder Adrian Cardenas off waivers from the Athletics on Monday, and made room on the 40-man roster when infielder Blake DeWitt was designated for assignment.

Rangers add Beimel, Jackson to NRIs
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:00 -0500)
The Rangers have signed left-handed pitcher Joe Beimel and outfielder/first baseman Conor Jackson to Minor League deals and invited them to Spring Training.

Tigers remain in running to land Cespedes
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:32:00 -0500)
The Tigers remain in the running for Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, by all accounts. But while the negotiations between Cespedes and various teams goes on, Detroit made another international signing the club thinks can pay dividends.

Prospect Tolleson setting sights on big leagues
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:31:00 -0500)
Imagine being a better pitcher than Clayton Kershaw. That was Shawn Tolleson, when both were Dallas-area high school stars entering their senior year.

Prospect Carmichael suspended 50 games
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:25:00 -0500)
Mariners Minor League catcher Christian Carmichael has received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Intertwined Posada, Varitek add extra to rivalry
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:00 -0500)
The intertwined careers of Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek are subject to many different evaluative angles. For one, their individual battles for positional supremacy were always framed within the larger scope of one of baseball's most heated and enduring rivalries.

Verlander earns award for Super Bowl pick
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0500)
While the Giants were celebrating Sunday night with their second Super Bowl win over the Patriots in five years, Justin Verlander was celebrating on Twitter over his prognostication that the Giants would win with a 21-17 final score, calling him a proud winner.

Ramirez, Viciedo grasp Cespedes' situation
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:58:00 -0500)
Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo can relate to what Yoenis Cespedes is going through. While neither fostered the same hype as Cespedes surrounding their defections from Cuba, they still drew quite a bit of interest upon entering free agency.

Mariners add veterans Kuo, Camp to bullpen
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:49:00 -0500)
Looking to further bolster their bullpen, the Mariners signed veteran free-agent relievers Shawn Camp and Hong-Chih Kuo to non-guaranteed one-year Major League contracts on Monday.

O's swap Guthrie to Rox for Hammel, Lindstrom
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:42:00 -0500)
On the day they were scheduled to go to arbitration with their ace, the Orioles instead pulled off a trade, sending veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie to the Rockies on Monday in exchange for pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom.

Cora joins Cards on Minor League deal
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:33:00 -0500)
The Cardinals official signed veteran infielder Alex Cora to a Minor League deal on Monday.

Orioles have had discussions with Ramirez
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:29:00 -0500)
The Orioles have had "exploratory talks" with free-agent slugger Manny Ramirez's agent, executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said on Monday.

Braves unveil new logo, alternate jerseys
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:25:00 -0500)
The Braves will begin wearing an alternate jersey that looks much like the ones Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews wore when they helped introduce Major League Baseball to Atlanta.

Justice: Rays managing ballpark situation well
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:20:00 -0500)
It's impossible not to admire how the Tampa Bay Rays are handling a problem that could end up bringing the franchise to its knees.

Anibal wins arbitration hearing, gets $8 million
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:16:00 -0500)
An arbitration panel ruled in Anibal Sanchez's favor, meaning the right-hander will earn $8 million this year. Sanchez's salary represents the largest ever for a starting pitcher who went to a hearing.

A's stockpile candidates, but DH still a concern
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:00 -0500)
Magglio Ordonez and Manny Ramirez could potentially give the A's yet another option at the designated hitter spot, an area that is already plenty crowded but still of concern.

Griffey's simple gesture sets historic precedent
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:21:00 -0500)
As Black History Month plays out across Major League Baseball, it's not hard coming up with the most significant such moment in Mariners history.

Rays take Robinson's message to heart
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:51:00 -0500)
Jackie Robinson would be proud of the way the Rays do business. Since Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, progress has been made to the point where the color of a player's skin no longer matters.

Intriguing matchups on tap as season nears
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:15:00 -0500)
Now that football has played its big game, baseball fans have dozens and dozens of big games to look forward to during a 2012 season that will reflect major changes made this winter.

Marlins Caravan kicks off on Feb. 13
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:11:00 -0500)
Spring Training is 2 1/2 weeks away, and as part of the lead-up to the upcoming season, the Marlins are finalizing their annual community caravan.

NL East boasts plethora of pitching prospects
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:00 -0500)
Who are the best prospects in each organization? Which Minor Leaguers should you get the most excited about seeing on your favorite team? Now it's just a click away, with the rankings of the Top 20 prospects for each club unveiled this week. First up is the National League East.

Baylor hit managerial summit first in Colorado
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500)
When the Rockies hired Don Baylor on Oct. 27, 1992, he was one of four minority managers at that point. A Rockies franchise born long after baseball's color barrier had been shattered, and well after the Civil Rights Movement, was able to make a cultural accomplishment.

Castrovince: Post-Super Bowl baseball pop quiz
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500)
The Super Bowl is over, and now, with our collective blood guacamole levels at dangerous highs, the sporting world at large turns its attention back to baseball.

Fantasy launch a sure sign spring is on the way
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 -0500)
Slowly but surely, the signs of spring present themselves each year, and one of our favorite signs is now visible with Monday's launch of the 2012 MLB.com Player Preview and the MLB.com Fantasy Baseball 2012 game.

Nats, Ankiel agree to Minor League deal
(Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:04:00 -0500)
Rick Ankiel has agreed to terms on a Minor League contract that will have him back with the Nationals in 2012, a baseball source confirmed.

Many roster moves made, many more to come
(Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:51:00 -0500)
Even with the numerous roster moves of the past week, the fates of more than a handful of big-name players are up in the air with mere days until the first pitchers and catchers report.

Aceves, Red Sox avoid hearing with deal
(Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:50:00 -0500)
Alfredo Aceves and the Red Sox have avoided arbitration by agreeing on a one-year deal. It's the eighth of nine potential arbitration cases the team has settled outside of a hearing, leaving only designated hitter David Ortiz's situation unresolved.

Super Bowl a real Holliday for Cards star
(Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:27:00 -0500)
Matt Holliday and his family are among nearly 30 people at the St. Louis home of Cardinals teammate Chris Carpenter, watching Giants vs. Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. Holliday shares his thoughts on the handoff to baseball with MLB.com during the big game.

Leones skipper Oberkfell magical once again
(Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:13:00 -0500)
There is a new man making a name for himself with Escogido: former Major Leaguer and current manager Ken Oberkfell. The locals refer to Oberkfell as "El Mago de los Leones," Spanish for "The Leones' magician" because of his mystifying success since taking over the club for the 2009-2010 season.

Veteran right-hander Penny to play in Japan
(Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:46:00 -0500)
Right-hander Brad Penny is headed to Japan's Pacific League after 12 seasons in the Majors, The Associated Press reported Sunday morning.

Borbon bouncing back with Dominican squad
(Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:18:00 -0500)
Recovered from last season's hamstring injury and determined to win a starting role in center field with the Rangers, Julio Borbon is focused on helping his Dominican Republic teammates secure a Caribbean Series championship.

Ortiz wants to make deal, avoid arbitration
(Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:16:00 -0500)
Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz said he wants a multi-year deal and would like to avoid salary arbitration for next season.

Giants fans in midseason form at FanFest
(Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:01:00 -0500)
An estimated crowd of 36,000 Giants fans celebrated Saturday's FanFest by collecting autographs, listening to their favorite players and gathering freebies.

Fuld gives message of hope to diabetics
(Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:20:00 -0500)
Nobody would ever suspect that Sam Fuld had Type 1 diabetes, based on the reckless abandon with which the 30-year-old Rays outfielder plays baseball. Only upon seeing Fuld injecting himself with insulin in the clubhouse does one realize what Fuld overcomes on a daily basis.

Dominican showcase takes new approach
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:56:00 -0500)
A large group of eager teenagers took their first step toward their big league dreams and Major League Baseball took another step forward in Latin America on the first day of the Venezuela-Dominican Republic Showcase on Friday at the Mets complex.

Lincecum has last word on new contract
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:43:00 -0500)
Speaking publicly Friday for the first time since he and the Giants agreed to their deal on Jan. 24, Tim Lincecum calmly rebutted the assumptions of his skeptics as if they were so many helpless hitters.

Reyes gets dreadlocks shorn for charity
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:40:00 -0500)
To conform with Miami Marlins policy, shortstop Jose Reyes cut off his famed dreadlocks, which he had sported the past three years as a member of the New York Mets.

Spencer: Giants ready to welcome back Posey
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:55:00 -0500)
When he hasn't been caring for his baby twins this winter, Giants catcher Buster Posey has been fully immersed in rehab. He is convinced he'll be back in form by Opening Day, ready to catch, play some first base and hit.

Blue Jays mull installing grass surface
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:00 -0500)
Arguably the biggest news to come out of this week's State of the Franchise in Toronto was the potential for the Blue Jays to install a natural-grass surface at Rogers Centre.

Rangers' concern lies with Hamilton's life, family
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:33:00 -0500)
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the club is in the process of hiring an "accountability" partner for outfielder Josh Hamilton.

Hamilton apologizes for drinking alcohol
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:18:00 -0500)
Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, long engaged in a battle against drug and alcohol addiction, publicly apologized for his actions on Monday, when he consumed alcohol in two Dallas establishments.

Robinson impacted Cincinnati amid segregation
(Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 -0500)
By the mid-1950s, Reds fans had grown accustomed to seeing African-American players the likes of Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron -- as visiting ballplayers. It wasn't until Frank Robinson walked into Crosley Field in 1956 that Cincinnati finally had a black baseball superstar of its own.

Hot Stove Tracker | Spring Training report dates
(Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:53:45 -0500)