Pitchers and catchers start reporting to camps  —  Despite losing Pablo Sandoval, the Giants have their core players returning, which should help them contend in a much improved the NL West  —  #BaseballBegins now.  —  Exactly 112 days after throwing the last real pitch in Major League Baseball …

The Education of Alex Rodriguez … PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER HAPAK … Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images … Henny Ray Abrams/AP Images

DAN O'DOWD, FORMER ROCKIES GM, JOINS MLB NETWORK AS ANALYST  —  The Denver Post  —  Dan O'Dowd has moved from creator to commentator.  —  The former Rockies general manager has joined MLB Network as a studio analyst.  He'll begin his job as part of MLB Network's “30 Clubs in 30 Days” spring training series beginning March 3.

Facing stretch of 30 games in 31 days, club could ease workload with fresh arms  —  MLB.com Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch discusses the importance of a healthy CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka for the Yankees in 2015  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees are considering using a sixth starter at times …

Roster battles on deck in Dunedin as reporting dates approach  —  A Blue Jays' lineup led by Jose Bautista should be helped by the additions of Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin as the bid for the playoffs  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays' first official workout for pitchers and catchers is less …

Orioles closing in on one-year deal with former All-Star infielder Everth Cabrera  —  The Orioles are finalizing a one-year deal with free-agent infielder and former All-Star Everth Cabrera, according to an industry source.  —  Cabrera has taken a physical and the results are pending, according to the source.

Central Notes: Youkilis, Liriano, Murphy, Tigers  —  Recently-retired veteran Kevin Youkilis will be joining the Cubs as a special assistant, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports on Twitter.  The connection will be obvious for many: Youkilis rose to prominence and made most of his impact …

Kenley Jansen expected to miss 8-12 weeks after foot surgery  —  In the “Better now than in six months” category comes the following announcement from the Dodgers' public relations department: … If Jansen were to return in 10 weeks, that would put him back in action in the last week of April.

Return to form could benefit slugger, club; health status of Lee also a big factor  —  Ryan Howard hit over 20 home runs in 2014 but led the Majors in strikeouts while hitting .223 and may see his playing time reduced this year  —  PHILADELPHIA — There will be no “State of the Jimmy” this spring at Bright House Field.

Former Jays coach Tenace auctioning off memorabilia  —  Former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston (left) sits on the bench with hitting coach Gene Tenace in 2008.  Tenace, who has six World Series rings including two with the Jays, is selling off his memorabilia at an auction in April and giving the cash to his three kids.

Early reports are positive on bulked-up Verlander  —  LAKELAND, Fla. - James McCann's first look at Justin Verlander?  —  “Very good,” he said.  “Very good.”  —  The Tigers' rookie catcher was on the receiving end of Verlander's latest bullpen outing, this time Tuesday in TigerTown, and was impressed.

Bernie Williams has a legacy worth remembering  —  In his 16-year career, Bernie Williams crafted the legacy of an all-time great — not just as a Yankee, but within the sport of baseball as a whole.  (Getty Images)