Saturday News and Notes: Indians sign Jeff Manship

Cleveland Related

Cleveland Indians reach terms with RHP Jeff Manship; invite to spring training | cleveland.com - Jeff Manship made the Phillies opening day roster last season as a spring training invitee.

MLB predictions for 2015: Detroit Tigers will win fifth straight AL Central title | cleveland.com - The White Sox might not win the AL Central in 2015, but they've improved enough to turn the division upside down. That is one of 15 predictions for the upcoming baseball season by Paul Hoynes, Indians beat writer for Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Cleveland reaches 50 years of sports futility | FOX Sports - Happy anniversary, everybody.

Around the Horn

The Twins May Have Weakened a Weakness | FanGraphs Baseball - The Twins' defense may be worse next year.

These are baseball's most surprising stats of 2014. | SportsonEarth.com : Paul Casella Article - Instead of ranking the top players or best plays of '14, let's examine some of the most jaw-dropping stats and milestones to come out of this past year.

A.J. Pierzynski to earn a $2 million base salary with the Braves | HardballTalk - The Braves' one-year deal with catcher A.J. Pierzynski is for $2 million.

Report: Phillies nearing a deal with Wandy Rodriguez | HardballTalk - If you're left handed, teams will keep giving you another shot.

Report: Hiroki Kuroda is going back to Japan | HardballTalk - After seven years in the United States, Hiroki Kuroda is heading home. This leaves a hole in the Yankees' rotation. Max Scherzer?

Nationals sign Dan Uggla | HardballTalk - Uggla hit .179 in 2013 and .149 this year. Ugg.

In Africa, Out of Nowhere, There Is Baseball - WSJ - 
In the East African nation of Uganda, a local man has led the development of an extraordinary baseball culture.