Josh Hamilton meets with MLB officials about a disciplinary issue  —  Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton is meeting with Major League Baseball officials Wednesday about a disciplinary issue, and the team is bracing for possible penalties.  —  General Manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed that Hamilton …

Steinbrenner talks about futures of Cashman, Girardi and A-Rod  —  Clockwise from left: Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman, Alex Rodriguez and manager Joe Girardi  —  TAMPA — Take the hot seat away.  No one is on it for the Yankees.  It is only spring training, as owner Hal Steinbrenner sees it.

Blue Jays lose outfielder Michael Saunders with knee injury  —  Bad news has struck the Toronto Blue Jays with the news that new leftfielder Michael Saunders suffered a knee injury while shagging flies on Wednesday and will require surgery.  —  Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos delivered …

Slugger brings charm to new clubhouse, confident that Majors' best outfield resides in San Diego  —  Outfielder Matt Kemp talks about the health of his hips and fresh outlook with the Padres as he prepares for the season with a new team  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Spotting a familiar face …

Francisco Rodriguez Agrees To Terms With Unidentified Team  —  Veteran reliever Francisco Rodriguez has an agreement in place with an as-yet unidentified team, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports on Twitter.  While Rodriguez's destination is not yet known, it is not the Marlins …

Arizona Diamondbacks' Yasmany Tomas goes to work at third base  —  At 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, Yasmany Tomas emerged from the clubhouse and began to stretch with his teammates on the lawn at Salt River Fields.  Under a bright blue sky and atop bright green grass, so began the first …

Longtime A's second baseman Mark Ellis retires  —  Mark Ellis, who spent nine of his 12 major-league seasons with the A's, is retiring.  —  “It was definitely time,” Ellis told The Chronicle on Wednesday evening.  “My kids are getting older and I kind of realized it was time to do something else.”

Daniel Murphy: 'As of now, I'm a Met'  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Second baseman Daniel Murphy, the lone All-Star for the New York Mets in 2014, likely is headed for free agency next offseason.  —  Murphy indicated Thursday that he was open to in-season extension talks between the club …

Pirates willing to consider high salary number to keep McCutchen  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — When Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton signed his $325 million contract in the offseason, it shook the financial landscape of baseball.  —  The aftershocks will be felt in the Pirates front office …

Slowly, Phillies enter analytics era  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Last week, Pat Gillick sat in the lobby of Bright House Field and said the “A” word.  He did not scoff.  He did not swear.  He did not speak in tongues or smoke at the ears.  The question was simple: What role …

Padres prospect a defensive standout, looking to improve at plate  —  Bud Black discusses Austin Hedges' development and maturity at camp and how the catching prospect can move up in the organization  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Austin Hedges is well aware that after two grim offensive seasons in the Texas League …

MLB supports California bill that would ban tobacco at ballpark  —  David Ortiz rips into a package of chewing tobacco.  (Getty)  —  A bill set to be introduced in the California state legislature would ban the use of smokeless tobacco in major league ballparks, an initiative that Major League Baseball says it supports.

‘Swiss Army knife’ of Brewers' staff to be stretched out during Spring Training  —  Tyler Thornburg and Ron Roenicke discuss the right-hander's expected role with the Brewers' pitching staff this season  —  PHOENIX — Tyler Thornburg would love to settle into a set role.