May 2016 - Baseball Wiretap

Braves Had Serious Interest In Justin Upton
The Braves were seriously interested in signing Justin Upton this winter for a second tenure with the club, according to a report.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

Troy Tulowitzki Leaves Game With Bruised Hand
The Blue Jays received a scare on Wednesday when Troy Tulowitzki left the team's spring training game after being hit by a pitch on the right hand.

Jayson Stark/ESPN

Rangers Name Cole Hamels Opening Day Starter
Texas will begin the season on April 4 against the Mariners.

T.R. Sullivan/MLB

Rays Experience Delayed Return From Cuba
The Rays experienced a delayed return home from Tuesday's historic trip to Cuba.

Bill Chastain/MLB

Peter O'Brien Slugs Hardest-Hit HR Ever Recorded By Statcast
Peter O'Brien made history on Tuesday night with an eighth inning home run in a spring training game between the Diamondbacks and Giants.

Mike Petriello/MLB

Marcus Stroman To Start Opener For Blue Jays
The Blue Jays will send Marcus Stroman to the mound for their April 3 opener against the Rays.

Associated Press

Forbes: Yankees Worth MLB-High $3.4 Billion
The Yankees have been at the top of the list since Forbes began forming it in 1998.

Darren Rovell/ESPN

Alex Rodriguez To Retire After 2017 Season
Alex Rodriguez will retire when his current deal with the New York Yankees expires after the 2017 season.

RealGM Staff Report

Time Warner Cable Lowers Price Of Dodgers Channel
Time Warner Cable is offering a proposal designed to end the stalemate over distribution of the sports channel owned by the Dodgers so fans in Southern California can see games this season.

Meg James/Los Angeles Times

Tigers Were In On Yoenis Cespedes
The Tigers were in on Yoenis Cespedes before they signed Justin Upton this winter, according to a report.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

Dave Dombrowski Says Contracts Won't Dictate Playing Time
Dave Dombrowski has told the Red Sox coaching staff that playing time and roster spots will not be determined by contracts.

Rob Bradford/WEEI

Jon Gray Set For MRI On Abdominal
The Rockies got a scare on Tuesday when prospect Jon Gray left with abdominal tightness after facing only three batters in a spring training game against the Brewers.

ESPN

Andre Ethier Out 10-14 Weeks With Fractured Tibia
Andre Ethier will be out for 10-14 weeks after fracturing his right tibia during a spring training game on Friday.

ESPN

Jose Fernandez Looks Great Over Five Hitless Innings
Jose Fernandez issued a two-out walk to Travis Shaw in the first inning but was otherwise perfect, striking out four on 60 pitches.

Joe Frisaro/MLB

Red Sox Content With Current Starting Rotation
The Red Sox plan to use some mix of Rick Porcello, Joe Kelly, Clay Buchholz and Eduardo Rodriguez behind David Price, who signed a $217 million contract this offseason.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Nationals May Find Time For Michael Taylor At Jayson Werth's Expense
The Nationals owe Jayson Werth $42 million over the next two seasons, which hampered their ability to add a slugger in free agency this offseason.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Blue Jays, John Gibbons Agree On Contract Restructure
John Gibbons' new contract includes a pay raise and guarantees through the 2017 season.

Chad Thornburg/MLB

Indians Exploring Trade Market For Outfielders
A deal may seem unlikely at this point, but the Indians are exploring all means to upgrade an outfield unit that enters the 2016 season with question marks.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Giants, Brandon Belt Set To Open Contract Talks
The Giants plan to open talks with Brandon Belt on a possible multiyear extension this week.

Andrew Baggarly/San Jose Mercury News

Report: Padres Intially Planned To Hire Billy Eppler As GM
While deciding on a new general manager in August 2014, the Padres initially planned to hire Billy Eppler over A.J. Preller, according to a report.

Bryce Miller/San Diego Union-Tribune

Jarrod Parker Has 'No Doubt' He'll Return From Third Tommy John
Since Jarrod Parker has already had two Tommy John surgeries, the question will be whether there is an adequate area to anchor a new ligament or even the existing one.

Susan Slusser/San Francisco Chronicle

Rangers Have Attempted To Extend Rougned Odor's Contract
The Rangers have tried to sign Rougned Odor to a contract extension, but the two sides are no longer actively talking after finding themselves far apart on terms.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

David Murphy Considering Retirement With Opt-Out Looming
David Murphy has until this coming Sunday to decide on his opt-out clause with the Red Sox.

Jon Tomase/WEEI

Rangers Send Three Top Prospects Down To Minors
The Rangers have decided to send top position player prospects Joey Gallo, Jurickson Profar and Nomar Mazara to Triple-A Round Rock.

Associated Press

Astros Looking For Catching Help
The Astros are looking for a catcher outside the organization in the wake of an injury to reserve Max Stassi.

Brian McTaggart/MLB

Rangers No Longer Searching For Catcher
The Rangers are content with Robinson Chirinos as their Opening Day starter at catcher.

T.R. Sullivan/MLB

White Sox Have No Plans To Trade Chris Sale
Rick Hahn has received a few calls about the team's ace as Opening Day nears.

Dan Hayes/CSN Chicago

Pablo Sandoval: 'Every Year I Have To Prove Myself'
John Farrell says Pablo Sandoval must earn back his job as the club's everyday third baseman.

Scott Lauber/ESPN

Chone Figgins To Retire With Angels
Chone Figgins has signed a one-day contract with the Angles and will retire on Monday.

ESPN.com

Wei-Yin Chen To Start Marlins' Season Opener
New Marlins manager Don Mattingly said ace Jose Fernandez will pitch the next day.

ESPN.com