Here's hoping Torres/Byrdak are fine and the Mets only have to shave two fro Baxter and Batista. Three becomes a bit problematic. Not sure if anyone is a candidate for the 60-day...

My guess -- first two off the bus are Arm-Rod and Stinson.

Andy Martino ‏ @SurfingTheMets Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Mets have nothing active on trade or signing front, team official says. Something last-minute would have to arise for OD roster to change.

Ike doing an interview with Benigno and Roberts is entertaining.

Unfortunately, he just spun a falsehood about Bay: "I can't tell you how many fly outs I've seen him hit to the warning track. It's exciting to think those will be home runs now".

Ike must have his video games confused with reality, because one of the things that's been most disheartening to me about Bay is that he goes weeks without hitting a deep fly ball, let alone a home run or double.

Astros expected to make final cuts today.

Interesting to me for 2 reasons (and yes its sad I'm watching the worst-team in the NL's cuts with great interest):

-Rhiner Cruz in a competition for one of the last pen spots. After starting the spring with 4 Hs and 3 BBs thru his first .1 inning (4 ER against), he's gone 9 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 10/7 K/BB since. Gut says he probably makes it, at least initially. We all know he's likely no big loss, but we do know the FO liked him at least a little bit, as he was a planned NRI if he wasn't plucked per Rubin and they did talk him up a bit last year. Also wonder if there are 40 man ramifications if he's offered back (i.e., easier to risk losing a relief type like Stinson if Cruz is back in org to replace the depth lost).

-Travis Buck in a competition for the last OF spot. He's had a good spring, but they have a lot of LH'ed OFers to begin with and Ruggiano is also in camp. Obviously Buck has never really been able to stay healthy enough to replicate his rookie year, but he's about the same age and probably has a lot more natural talent than a Mike Baxter. Wonder if they take a look if he does shake free (not sure thing that the Astros would let him go anyway as he doesn't qualify for the FA thing, but a lot of teams do let guys with experience chase major league jobs if they present themselves). For full disclosure, he's also been one of those "irrational favorites from other teams" guys for me for a while, so there is definitely some bias here that probably doesn't make sense otherwise.

Wow this is sad... (pulled from another site)



The Pirates and Orioles have home sell outs for opening day.

You mean to tell me the sight of Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz beaming on the courthouse steps last month wasn't enough to make fans run out and scoop up opening weekend tickets?

Well this is shocking: Reds and Votto are nearing a $200M or more extension.

Unlike Fielder, Votto is probably worth a $200M contract over the next decade. He's that good.

It probably wouldn't kick in until 2014 though, I'd imagine. If they can't rip that up, that complicates things a bit.

Almost certainly in response to everyone giving MLBTR their due on this big breaking, out-of-nowhere story:

Rich Coutinho ‏ @coutinho9 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Spoke at sports forum recently and prevailing theme is fans could care less who breaks story they think it just feeds our egos

Says the guy who doesn't break stories, of course.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/04/i ... um=twitter

Fred Lewis released. Coming off a down 2011, he only got 15 ABs this spring in Cleveland.

Extension Monday? Cain supposedly getting something around 5/110.

Some think it's a overpay but I really don't think it's that bad. I would value him more in the 5/90-5/95 range, which isn't far off from what he's supposedly getting. He's been incredibly durable and has a top 15 ERA- in baseball over the last three seasons (and obviously when it comes to Cain, I trust his ERA over his FIP or xFIP). He's still pretty young too. Paying Cain this contract definitely beats out giving Lincecum something ridiculous.

Hamels supposedly told the Phillies he's looking for 22-24 million per... and they are ok with that but he wants 7 years and they want 4. Sounds like he's gonna stay a Phillie.