June 2012 - Baseball Wiretap

Matsuzaka Could Return To Red Sox By June 1
Bobby Valentine told reporters on Thursday that Daisuke Matsuzaka is on target for a return around June 1.

Buster Olney/ESPN.com (via Twitter)

Feliz Not Worried About Shoulder
Neftali Feliz is not concerned about his stiff shoulder.

ESPN.com

MLB Creating New League For Dominican Amateurs
MLB is creating a new league for amateur players in the Dominican Republic.

AP

Valentine Upset With Girardi Calling Game
Bobby Valentine objected to the Yankees not wanting to play extra innings on Thursday.

ESPN.com

Moorad Steps Down As Padres' CEO
Jeff Moorad has stepped down as the CEO of the Padres on Thursday.

ESPN.com

Pedroia Suffers Arm Injury, X-Rays Negative
Bobby Valentine says Dustin Pedroia will be fine after being hit by a pitch on the arm Thursday.

ESPN.com

Kendrys Morales Returns After Two Years
Kendrys Morales played his first game in nearly two years on Thursday.

ESPN.com

Howard Works Out Without Boot
Ryan Howard fielded grounders while siting on a stool Thursday.

ESPN.com

Chipper To Retire After 2012 Season
Braves third baseman Chipper Jones will retire at the end of the 2012 season.

ESPN.com

Royals' Soria Has Elbow Damage
Royals closer Joakim Soria has damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

ESPN.com

Forbes: Average MLB Team Value Up 16 Percent
The Yankees are worth $1.85 billion according to Forbes' annual report.

AP

Cashman Stalker Indicted
Louise Neathway has been indicted for staling Yankees GM Brian Cashman, according to prosecutors on Wednesday.

ESPN.com

Cubs GM Denies Soler Deal
The Cubs are not confirming or denying interest in soon-to-be free agent Jorge Soler.

ESPN.com

Scott Sizemore Undergoes Surgery On ACL
Scott Sizemore will miss the entire 2012 season.

MLB.com

Davey Johnson Believes Nationals Can Win Pennant
Johnson has also said that Washington should fire him if the team doesn't make the postseason.

Big League Stew

Wilson May Be Disciplined For Twitter Prank
C.J. Wilson may be punished by Major League Baseball for his recent Twitter prank on former Rangers teammate Mike Napoli.

Dallas Morning News

Sunglasses May Have Saved Cabrera's Season
The glasses softened some of the blow incurred by his eye, preventing Miguel Cabrera from suffering a more serious fracture.

Detroit News

Red Sox Could Return Bard To Bullpen
Alfredo Aceves and Felix Doubront will likely fill the final two starting spots for the Red Sox.

CSN New England

Collmenter Likely To Be Arizona's No. 5 Starter
Josh Collmenter will be the fifth start for the Diamondbacks to begin the season as long as he is healthy.

Steve Gilbert/MLB.com (via Twitter)

Lohse Will Start In Place Of Carpenter In Opener
Chris Carpenter won't start for the Cardinals on Opening Day after a setback in his recovery from a bulging disk in his neck.

Associated Press

Strasburg To Start Nats' Opener
Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' Opening Day starter April 5 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

ESPN.com

A's Pick Balfour As Closer Over Fuentes
The Athletics will open the season with Grant Balfour as their closer.

MLB.com

Montero Out To Prove Catching Skills Are Legitimate
Seattle plans to use Jesus Montero behind the plate in one-third of their games this season.

Jeff Passan/Yahoo! Sports

Royals Acquire Bourgeois, Quintero From Astros
The Astros have traded outfielder Jason Bourgeois and catcher Humberto Quintero to the Royals in exchange for minor league lefthander Kevin Chapman and a player to be named.

Houston Chronicle

Orioles Snatch Up Dontrelle Willis
The left-hander was let go by the Phillies last week.

Associated Press

Padres Give Hundley $9M Contract
The Padres have agreed to a three-year, $9 million contract with Nick Hundley.

Associated Press

Pettitte Feels Like He Never Left Yankees
Andy Pettitte threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday.

Kieran Darcy/ESPN.com

Berkman Rips Selig For Extorting Astros
Lance Berkman has criticized Bud Selig for extorting new Astros owner Jim Crane into changing leagues as a precondition of the sale of the franchise in November.

Jerry Crasnick/ESPN.com

No. 2 Braves Prospect Vizcaino To Miss 2012 Season
Braves pitching prospect Arodys Vizcaino will miss the 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

MLB.com

Phillies Not Denying Utley's Career Might Be Jeopardy
Chase Utley has chronic soreness in both knees.

Philly News