Alex Rios Had Offers, But Sought MLB Job With Significant Role

Jon Heyman Twitter

Royals Don't Have Money To Re-Sign Alex Rios

Jon Heyman Twitter

Alex Rios, David Freese, Tim Lincecum, & Joe Nathan Remain On The Free Agent Market

Spring Training for teams of Major League Baseball continue full steam, but for some players who test market free agency, the waiting and the uncertainty of whether they will get a new contract before the start of the regular series can be exasperating.  (Translated)

El Nuevo Dia

Rafael Furcal & Carlos Baerga Will Take Part In The Carlos Beltran Softball Challenge In Puerto Rico

With the participation of several major leaguers and winter ball, Carlos Beltran presented this weekend its "Softball Challenge" at Donna Terry Stadium Guaynabo.  (Translated)

El Nuevo Dia

Royals Told They Have 'No Chance' To Re-Sign Alex Gordon As Things Stand

The Royals have been told by Alex Gordon's camp that, as things currently stand, they have "no chance" to retain star left fielder Alex Gordon, sources said. Things obviously can change in free agency, but it's clear at this point that there's at least a wide gap in talks regarding the longtime Royals outfielder.

CBS Sports

Athletics Out Of The Running For Scott Kazmir; Padres Not A Factor For Kenta Maeda Bidding

The Athletics’ reported agreement with free-agent righty Henderson Alvarez on a one-year, $4.25 million contract takes them out of play for free-agent lefty Scott Kazmir, sources say.

Fox Sports

Carlos Gonzalez Could Fit On Multiple Teams

The oft-injured slugger has two years left on his deal.

Beyond The Boxscore

Royals, Angels, Giants, & Tigers Interested In Yoenis Cespedes

Four teams have shown the most interest so far in Yoenis Cespedes, and three are no surprise.

NY Post

Jason Heyward As A Centerfielder

The Chicago Cubs clearly had two primary areas in need of improvement at the beginning of this offseason: starting pitching and center field. The word was that the Cubs were in on David Price, but we know that didn’t happen, and so instead the Cubs went with a more cost-effective choice in John Lackey.

Fangraphs

Royals Decline 2016 Option On Alex Rios

Kansas City Official Twitter

Questions On Whether Padres Make Qualifying Offer For Ian Kennedy

There's skepticism as to whether the Padres will really give Ian Kennedy a qualifying offer. Rivals see that as a $15.8-million gamble that's too big for a small-revenue team.

CBS Sports

Johnny Cueto Finally Pays Off For Surging Royals

The Kansas City Royals were no one-year wonder.

Tipsheet

Cole Hamels Trade, Davis Price Auction Have Market Buzzing

The Philadelphia Phillies pressed the Cole Hamels suitors to make their best offer Wednesday. Later in the day, the Detroit Tigers made pending free agent David Price available.

Tipsheet

Trevor Rosenthal Hits Milestone With 30th Save

Coming into Thursday night’s game after his 25-year-old closer already had appeared in two straight games, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny wouldn’t have called Trevor Rosenthal’s name out to pitch the ninth inning.
Post-Dispatch

The masterful maneuver Trevor Rosenthal made to deflect disaster and secure the Cardinals' 4-3 win over the Royals on Thursday night had as much to do with what happened in the 24 hours leading up to the moment as it did the final 16 pitches he threw.
St. Louis Official Site

Tyler Lyons Tames Royals For First Win Since 2013

Cardinals starting pitcher Tyler Lyons was on a short leash at Busch Stadium on Saturday while filling in for Lance Lynn, and a rain delay made the decision to pull him after five innings easier for manager Mike Matheny.
St. Louis Official Site

Saturday was a calming of the waters for Cardinals starting pitcher Tyler Lyons.
Fox Sports Midwest

Tyler Lyons returned once again to St. Louis, tapped to start for Lance Lynn in a Saturday afternoon game against the Royals.
KMOV

The rain pummeled Busch Stadium at the end of the fifth inning Saturday as the grounds crew rolled the tarp over the infield.
Post-Dispatch

Series Preview: Royals @ Cardinals (June 12-14, 2015)

The Royals, after taking two of three from the Cardinals in Kansas City recently, have won 18 games at home against the Cardinals in interleague play and 18 in St. Louis. But they have lost 31 at Kauffman Stadium and only 16 in St. Louis over the years as many more games have been played in Kansas City in the series. ... For the second time this season, the Cardinals and Royals will meet as holders of the best records in their respective leagues, the Cardinals at 39-21 and the Royals at 34-23, which is also second best in the majors to the Cardinals.

Post-Dispatch

Ryan Ludwick Homers In Rangers' Spring Game

The Royals scored six runs in the top of the first inning off Rangers starter Coby Lewis on the way to a 13-2 win on Wednesday in the Cactus League opener for both teams at Surprise Stadium.

Texas Official Site

The Top Ten MLB Teams For 2015

Possibly the silliest phrase in Major League Baseball at the moment is "World Series favorite." To predict which clubs will survive the 162-game grind to win their division at a time of great competitive parity in the sport is difficult enough. To project which club will be hot enough, lucky enough and deep enough to survive and thrive in October is all but impossible.

Sports On Earth

WAR Shows Cardinals Have Best Outfield In NL Central, Fifth Best Overall

Adding Jason Heyward's 5.1 WAR as arguably the game's premier right fielder defensively elevates the Cards in the company of Matt Holliday, Jon Jay and electric Peter Bourjos. Jay is the chess piece here, capable of playing all three positions. Few center fielders are in Bourjos' class defensively.

Anaheim Official Site

Big-Money James Shields? Market Is Strong, Unpredictable

Think the Max Scherzer market is a mystery? Try figuring out which team is getting James Shields.

Fox Sports