Truth & Rumors > MLB

07:21 AM ET 06.17 | Looking for movement in the tale of Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers? There's been some progress in the [Kershaw] negotiations, but word is that he has been seeking about $225 million and talks have gone on too long for people familiar with the discussions to suggest the sides are close to a deal yet. While there's been movement, it isn't known how close the Dodgers are willing to come to the $225 million figure, so optimism can't be gauged at this point. It's also possible he may be willing to come off that figure -- though the deal still has a very good chance to exceed $200 million. It's likely the Dodgers understand the star left-hander should be the highest-paid pitcher, which would put his contract at above the $180 million record Justin Verlander set.

CBS Sports

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07:20 AM ET 06.17 | Welcome to Major League Baseball, prized prospect Wil Myers. Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said they've always maintained that when [Myers] was ready, they'd auger out a spot for him. And that's exactly why Friedman said they called Myers up now, saying he's made the necessary adjustments and will "fit right in" to the Rays team. Myers will play regularly, mostly in rightfield, with Friedman saying he'll "inject" another bat against right-handed pitching. "He's going to play a lot," manager Joe Maddon said. "Of course you don't bring somebody like that up to sit around." There has always been a lot of expectations placed on Myers, last year's minor league player of the year, since he was the key chip in the offseason trade of RHP James Shields.

Tampa Bay Times

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07:19 AM ET 06.17 | Angel Pagan's lengthy stay on the DL remains somewhat a mystery, particularly after he has said he felt "close" to returning. Pagan answered some of the questions Sunday by revealing he had a platelet-rich plasma injection a week ago, and his hamstring injury was severe enough that surgery was discussed. It remains an option, manager Bruce Bochy said, although he and Pagan both said the PRP treatment has led to good progress. "I don't think surgery every comes off the table until he's playing again," Bochy said, estimating an operation to repair the muscle where it meets his tibia near his left knee. Pagan does not see himself close to requiring an operation, which would cost him six to eight weeks. "I'm very optimistic I'll be in the lineup soon," he said.

San Francisco Chronicle

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07:18 AM ET 06.17 | Nearly as a rule, a big contract guarantees some level of disappointment, and $23-million man Joe Mauer has taken a beating in the Twin Cities. By comparison with other players making $20 million or more this season, he's a bargain. ... A few of the players who make $20 million or more and have been injured, inept or merely disappointing: Alex Rodriguez, Johan Santana, Vernon Wells, Mark Teixeira, Tim Lincecum, Adrian Gonzalez, Zack Greinke, Carl Crawford, Matt Cain, Cole Hamels, Matt Kemp, Howard, Halladay and Barry Zito. The list of $20 million players who have justified their contracts, at least in the short term, is much shorter: Mauer, Cabrera, Verlander, Felix Hernandez and maybe CC Sabathia if you consider the Yankees' wealth.

Star Tribune

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08:52 AM ET 06.16 | First, Felix Hernandez. Then Justin Verlander. And soon, Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers have made progress on a seven-year extension for Kershaw, and the dollar amount will be above the $180 million the Tigers awarded Verlander, according to major-league sources. The contract would be the largest for a pitcher in baseball history. Kershaw, 25, would warrant a richer deal than Verlander, 30, and Hernandez, 27, because he is younger than both of those pitchers, sources said. The two sides discussed a variety of proposals earlier in the negotiations -- including 10 years, $250 million and 12 years, $300 million, sources said. The deal currently under discussion is more in line with the current market -- and would make Kershaw a free agent again at 32 if it did not include options. Kershaw currently is in the second year of a two-year, $19 million contract.

FOX Sports

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