Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brandon League credits giving up alcohol to boost in energy  —  ¬ (Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News) ¬  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. >> To hear Dodgers pitcher Brandon League tell it, shedding 20 pounds and giving up alcohol were just a means to the end.

Tigers SS Iglesias Back on Field in Win Over Fla Southern  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias played in his first game in more than a year, and the Tigers beat Florida Southern 12-2 Monday at spring training.  —  As planned, Iglesias played one inning.

Jon Lester to start Cubs' opener  —  MESA, Ariz. — New Chicago Cubs ace Jon Lester will throw the first pitch of the new baseball season April 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals, manager Joe Maddon announced Monday.  —  Maddon also said Lester will make his Cubs debut this spring Friday …

A-Rod listed as DH in Yankees' intrasquad game  —  Alex Rodriguez is ready to play for the New York Yankees.  —  A-Rod is listed as the designated hitter in Monday's intrasquad game.  Suspended for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labour contract, Rodriguez missed all of last season …

Rangers slugger missed most of 2014 season due to neck injury  —  Prince Fielder and Elvis Andrus share excitement about coming to Spring Training healthy and Jeff Banister talks about his club's readiness  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Morning rain canceled the Rangers' planned intrasquad game for Monday …

A's Switch-Pitcher Hopes to Find Spot With Oakland  —  MESA, Ariz. — Pat Venditte is used to it by now.  Teammates, coaches and others regularly stop him for a chance to check out his one-of-a-kind glove, the same one he has used for years featuring space for either hand.  —  Venditte is a rare switch-pitcher.

Wainwright returns to the mound, as scheduled  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright returned to the mound Monday morning to throw his first bullpen session since an abdominal strain forced him to take a few days off.  —  Wainwright worked through a light series of throws and then a progression of his pitches.

As shift becomes controversial in baseball, 1 prominent Mets pitcher protests too  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The defensive shift has become a nettlesome topic in baseball.  The sport's conservative guard is annoyed by it.  New Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred floated the idea of banning them.

Warthen ‘very skeptical’ of Harvey pitching 200 innings … Mets  —  Matt Harvey at Mets spring training

July 2nd Spending Plans Are Coming Into Focus  —  With the Red Sox recently adding Yoan Moncada to the fold last week (details and audio interview), the biggest international domino has fallen and now there's more certainty for teams and agents going forward about what teams can spend on July 2nd.

Torii Hunter seeks power, but knows when he's powerless  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Minnesota Twins right fielder Torii Hunter, stares at the ground, looks away, and slowly starts to speak again.  —  Hunter, whose ebullient personality has made him one of the most popular players in the game …

Pirates set pitching plans for early set of games  —  Gerrit Cole will start Wednesday's home opener at McKechnie Field.  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Bucs completed the first phase of their Spring Training on Sunday, pulling up Pirate City stakes.  Work done, immediate pitching plans set.