Happy Wednesday prospect mavens. Here's today's discussion thread for spring training action in Florida and Arizona, plus whatever baseball news you care to discuss. Here are some time-killing links that may interest you or serve as a distraction from whatever tedious work-related thing you are trying to avoid right now.

***Lance Rinker at Beyond the Box Score takes a look at minor league free agent signings who might turn out to be valuable in 2013.


***Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Gerrit Cole fanned six consecutive hitters yesterday, though they weren't exactly superstars: Daniel Figueroa, Paco Figueroa, Rafael Alvarez, Barbaro Canizares, Yunesky Sanchez, and Adrian Nieto playing for Spain. Still, he looked good doing it, throwing in the mid-90s. Charlie Wilmoth at Bucs Dugout points out that the Pirates were handicapped by having Francis Drake on the disabled list. Don't forget that Hawkins and Effingham are injured too.


***Should Nolan Arenado open 2013 as Colorado's regular third baseman? Personally I wouldn't do it, but they haven't asked me.

***Toronto Blue Jays shortstop prospect Justin Jackson is a pitcher now. And a musician.

***Some bad news from the Miami Marlins system: pitching prospect Charlie Lowell has been arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, and outfield prospect Kolby Copeland has been suspended for refusing to take a drug test.

***Brandon Moss Prospect Retro coming up later today.