Giants go from winning bling to grim spring  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Stroll into San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy's office, and he pops you a question before you sit down.  —  “So who looks good down here?”  Bochy asks.  —  Pause.  —  “Well, let me put it to you this way,” Bochy says.

Curt Schilling on Clay Buchholz' ace potential: 'I don't think he wants to be one'  —  Photo by:  —  Curt Schilling knows a No. 1 starter when he sees one, and the outspoken ex-Red Sox ace doesn't think Clay Buchholz has the makeup to be a No. 1 starter.  —  “Well, I don't think he wants to be one …

Rangers Claim Rule 5 Pick Logan Verrett From Orioles  —  1:03pm: Rangers EVP of communications John Blake has announced the move (on Twitter), adding that outfielder Antoan Richardson has been placed on the 60-day DL to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Verrett.

Kris Bryant: 'I'm hungrier than ever'  —  10m - MLB KRIS BRYANT CHICAGO CUBS + more  —  Cubs top prospect Kris Bryant says he is disappointed in being demoted and is motivated to reach the big leagues soon.

Pirates Acquire Hunter Morris From Brewers  —  The Pirates have acquired first baseman Hunter Morris from the Brewers in exchange for a player to be named later, the clubs announced.  The 26-year-old had already been outrighted over the offseason.  —  Morris has spent most of his time at Triple …

How Mike Schmidt helped Cody Asche's hitting approach  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Cody Asche first heard of Mike Schmidt in the summer of 2000, when Mark McGwire passed the former Phillies third baseman on the all-time home run list.  —  Asche was a 10-year-old Cardinals fan, who grew up 30 miles northwest of St. Louis.

Pitchers Audition as Tigers Beat Yanks' Split Squad 3-2  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — With at least two spots open on the Detroit Tigers' staff, manager Brad Ausmus used nearly all his auditioning pitchers Thursday during a 3-2 win over a New York Yankees' split squad.

A-Rod Makes Several Nice Plays at 1B; Yanks Top Pirates 6-2  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez made several nice plays during his second start at first base, and a New York Yankees' splits squad beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 Thursday.  —  A-Rod nearly turned a double play …

Braves Seeking Starters In Trade, Have Discussed Cahill With D-Backs  —  3:45pm: The Braves are discussing starting pitchers wiith multiple teams, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com (Twitter links).  Bowman, who also hears that Cahill has been discussed, says the Braves aren't comfortable slotting …

Ten ways to boost offense  —  23h - MLB BUSTER POSEY WILLIE BLOOMQUIST BARTOLO COLON SAM FULD ALEX GORDON JAMES SHIELDS MICHAEL CUDDYER MATT KEMP CLAY BUCHHOLZ MICHAEL PINEDA JEDD GYORKO ATLANTA BRAVES SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS SEATTLE MARINERS NEW YORK METS LOS ANGELES ANGELS CINCINNATI REDS …

2014 International Reviews: New York Mets  —  Top signing: INF Kenny Hernandez, Venezuela, $1 million.  —  Six-figure signings: SS Yoel Romero (Venezuela), SS Edgardo Fermin (Venezuela), SS Cecilio Aybar (Dominican Republic), OF Tulio Garcia (Venezuela), LHP Daniel Guzman (Venezuela), RHP Jhoander Chourio (Venezuela).

A's jelling quickly, but Crisp likely out a while  —  MESA, Ariz. — Spring training in their new Hohokam Stadium home went just swimmingly for the A's, their many new players meshing and their many young starting pitchers ranging from good to great.  —  The one downer for Oakland this spring …