A Fresh Start  —  Yesterday, I had Tommy John surgery to fix my left arm.  I'm obviously extremely disappointed.  I wanted to let my pitching speak for itself, but now there are going to be new distractions.  For that reason, I wanted to be the one to tell people what's happened and make this a fresh start.

Bryant looks good at another position he won't play for Cubs in opener  —  MESA, Ariz. — So now there are two positions Kris Bryant is good enough to play but won't be allowed to on Opening Night.  —  For seven innings Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels, the slugging third-base prospect looked more than capable in left field.

Reds get Dan Johnson from Astros  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cincinnati Reds acquired first baseman Dan Johnson from the Houston Astros on Thursday for a player to be named or cash, one of two trades involving minor leaguers.  They also sent infielder Devin Lohman to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named or cash.

Yankees' two losses to Mets would not have gone over well with George Steinbrenner  —  TAMPA — It is an accepted premise — except, of course, when it came to George Steinbrenner — that spring training games are mostly meaningless and that none of the players' performances, good or bad, are anything worth getting all worked up about.

The Dirt  —  I was ready to shoot somebody, man.  Literally.  I was sleeping at my house in the Dominican this winter when I heard a banging on my front door at 7:30 in the morning.  Now, I got security.  My kids and family are sleeping in the house.  I wasn't expecting anyone.

Chad Bettis, sent down on Sunday, makes statement vs. Rangers  —  TOPICS  —  Surprise, Ariz. — Chad Bettis wasn't just flame thrower Thursday night against the Rangers.  He was a pitcher.  —  Commanding his fastball down and away and mixing in a confounding changeup …

Former Cardinals player punched at St. Louis County gas station after racial slur  —  FENTON  • Former Cardinals outfielder Curt Ford said Thursday he may move away from the St. Louis area in disgust after being punched in an allegedly unprovoked, race-related attack at a gas station.

Potential Yankees Starter Warren Has Another Solid Outing  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Adam Warren isn't assuming he will earn a spot in the New York Yankees' pitching rotation.  —  “I haven't been told anything yet,” Warren said Thursday after another solid performance during a 6-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Hernandez Throws 6 Sharp Innings in Mariners' Loss to Royals  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Felix Hernandez pitched two-hit ball for six innings in his longest outing of the spring Thursday as a split squad of Seattle Mariners lost to the Kansas City Royals 3-0.  —  Hernandez, the ace who led the AL with a 2.14 ERA last season, gave up one run.

Rain Helps Cards' Wainwright Clean Up Tough Outing vs Miami  —  JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright gave up four runs, including a solo homer by Giancarlo Stanton, in 3 2-3 innings Thursday before a rain delay ended his outing in a 5-3 loss to the Miami Marlins.

Johnson Has 3 Hits to Help Braves Beat Pirates 7-5  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Josh Harrison led off the game with a home run that ended Wandy Rodriguez's scoreless streak at 12 innings, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5 Thursday.  —  Chris Johnson had three hits …

Cabrera, Martinez and Cespedes Homer for Tigers in Win  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes each homered for the Detroit Tigers in 6-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.  —  Cabrera connected off Tommy Hunter in the sixth …

Cubs' Ricketts reveals Wrigley renovation might take extra year  —  Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts revealed Wednesday that the Wrigley Field restoration project will take an extra year to complete.  —  The first of four scheduled offseason phases began in the fall of 2014 and the project …