AL West News & Rumors: Cruz, Shoppach, Baker, Coello

The big news of the day out of the American League West is definitely that Nelson Cruz was implicated in the Biogenesis/PED allegations that also named Alex Rodriguez and Gio Gonzalez in the report. If you haven't already, please head over to Lone Star Ball for Adam Morris' great coverage of the issue. Not to be missed.

The other big news is that Kelly Shoppach finally ended his dance with the Mariners and signed today. Jeff Sullivan has a fantastic if somewhat deflating coverage (what, you wanted a mind-blowing backup catcher?) over at Lookout Landing that's worth a read, assuming you have some hot tea next to you.

Here's all the latest:

• Rangers add Jeff Baker on minor league deal - MLB Daily Dish
  

• Q&A about possible ramifications of Cruz and Biogenesis - Lone Star Ball
  Posing questions and offering answers about the possible ramifications of Nelson Cruz and Biogenesis.

• Rangers release statement on Nelson Cruz - Lone Star Ball
  The Texas Rangers have released a statement on Nelson Cruz being linked with a Miami clinic accused of being involved with PEDs.

• Kelly Shoppach Is Happening - Lookout Landing
  "Backup catcher. Lifetime .226/.314/.418 batting line. Power and whiffs, in a way that doesn't involve Miguel Olivo's playing time, or Miguel Olivo's hopeless over-aggression. This is probably going to be fine until it's over, and then we'll be left thinking, that seemed like it was fine."

• Angels sign Robert Coello to minor-league deal - MLB Daily Dish

• FanFest Blogday Sessions: David Forst. - Athletics Nation
  "We had a 15 minute, press-conference style session with each person, where the field was opened up to pretty much anything. What follows is the transcript of the session we had with David Forst, the A’s Assistant General Manager. "

• The 2013 MLB Draft: Who Will The Astros Select Number One? - The Crawfish Boxes