Get ready for an awkward spring training with the Phillies  —  Pitchers, catchers, and a bunch of guys the Phillies spent the offseason trying to trade will report to spring training Thursday.  Contrary to popular belief, this team is going to be a contender.

Left Out  —  A bunch of 12-year-old kids had their hearts broken this week.  Jackie Robinson West, a team from Chicago's South Side, won the U.S. title at the 2014 Little League World Series.  They achieved their dream in dramatic fashion.  I remember watching their pitcher give …

D-Backs Avoid Arbitration With Addison Reed  —  The number of unsettled arbitration cases is rapidly winding down, but there are still a handful to be resolved.  We'll keep track of today's minor settlements here, with all projections coming via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz...

Price, Heyward and Zimmermann among best who may test open market  —  The MLB Now panel continues to examine the 2016 free-agent market for pitchers, including Rick Porcello, Jeff Samardzija and Mat Latos  —  The Detroit Tigers have been aggressive in recent seasons in an effort to end a 30-year championship drought.

Cleveland Indians interested in Dayan Viciedo; face uphill battle to sign him  —  Former White Sox outfielder Dayan Viciedo (right) has drawn interest from the Indians and other teams after being released by Chicago on Feb. 4.  (Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)

Fat Jameis Winston Photo is a Month Old, Here's the Story  —  Jameis Winston looks ... fat?  Out of shape?  Photos can be deceptive, but this one popped up on twitter Saturday and quickly made the rounds.  Its provenance was unknown, so I checked in with QB guru George Whitfield …

Sources: Yankees offer up Yankee Stadium to Alex Rodriguez for a potential public apology press conference  —  The Yankees have offered Rodriguez the option of making a public apology at Yankee Stadium, rather than creating a massive distraction at spring training with his mea culpa news conference.

Manager's nephew, former Phillie have Major League experience  —  9/7/13: With his back turned, Josh Roenicke stops an Adam Lind comebacker that goes between his legs, throwing to first for the out  —  MILWAUKEE — The nephew of Brewers manager Ron Roenicke and a former Phillie …

Pioneering Toronto Star baseball writer Alison Gordon dead at 72  —  Gordon, who covered the Blue Jays for the Star from 1979 to 1984, was Major League Baseball's first female beat writer.  —  Alison Gordon, shown here in 2001, was the Toronto Star's Blue Jays' beat writer from 1979-84.

Report: MLB could shrink strike zone in 2016  —  With offense on the decline and strikeouts at an all-time high, major league baseball is looking into shrinking the strike zone, according to a Yahoo Sports report.  —  Any formal rules change would have to be approved by baseball's Playing Rules Committee.

Yadier Alvarez Emerges While Other Cubans Move Closer to Deals  —  I returned a few days ago from a three-day trip to the Dominican to see top July 2nd prospects (more on that in the coming weeks) and also a workout that had 18 Cuban players in it.  Two of those 18 were big-time prospects …

It's Official _ All-Star Game to Be Played in Miami in 2017  —  MIAMI — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made it official Friday — the Miami Marlins will host the 2017 All-Star Game.  —  Manfred's announcement came at a news conference at Marlins Park.  Among those attending were Gov. Rick Scott …