Joe Girardi talks Gary Sanchez possibly hitting second in Yankees lineup  —  LAKELAND — Could No. 24 be in the No. 2 hole for the Yankees in 2017?  —  Joe Girardi did not dismiss the possibility that Gary Sanchez could hit second for the Bombers next season.

White Sox Request Release Waivers On Brett Lawrie  —  In a surprising move, the White Sox announced on Friday that they've requested release waivers on infielder Brett Lawrie.  Assuming Lawrie clears waivers — a fair bet, given his $3.5MM salary for the 2017 season — he'll become a free agent upon clearing in 48 hours.

Statcast wants to change how we're consuming baseball games  —  Sometime soon, there is going to be a new version of Wins Above Replacement available, and its goal, aside from encapsulating a player's value into one tidy number, is simple: Don't be scary.  The plan does not involve dumbing …

Patriots among teams interested in Brandin Cooks; Saints want mid-first round pick: sources  —  Brandin Cooks 65-yard touchdown reception  —  New Orleans Saints receiver Brandin Cooks scores on a 65-yard pass by Drew Brees during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday …

Matt Kalil called ‘100 percent healthy’ for free agency, will Vikings re-sign him?  —  For those wondering about Matt Kalil's health entering free agency, his father says there's nothing to worry about.  —  The Vikings left tackle was lost for the season after the second game of 2016 …

Loria moving forward with Marlins sales talks  —  A few Marlins notes on a Saturday:  —  • The question is no longer if Jeffrey Loria will sell the Marlins.  It's how quickly.  —  According to people briefed on the situation in the past week, Loria is fully expected to sell …

Heyman: Gap exists, but Odor awaiting latest Rangers counteroffer  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers and Rougned Odor are continuing to exchange figures in contract negotiations, and while there was still said to be a decent-sized gap coming into the weekend, the team was expected to revise …

Lorenzo Cain Wants Long-Term Deal From Royals  —  Lorenzo Cain is among several key Royals who are unsigned beyond this year, but the center fielder would rather continue in Kansas City than head elsewhere in 2018, he told Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com.  —  “You can't help but think about that …

Mets' Noah Syndergaard, who's loving his change-up, disses World Baseball Classic  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Noah Syndergaard has time to stir up a little intrigue at spring training, but no time for silly baseball tournaments.  The Mets right-hander said Friday that he has no regrets about turning …

Jeff Singer was working at a car dealership, then the Phillies called  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jeff Singer's baseball dream never felt farther away than it did on the mornings when he was the first employee to arrive at the car dealership.  —  Singer, now an intriguing Phillies pitching prospect …

As Part Of MLB Pace Of Play, Manfred Willing To Look At Shorter TV Commercial Breaks  —  In a continuing effort to have more action and less dead time in Major League Baseball, those at the highest levels of the sport are willing to examine how television factors in.

Source: Patriots exploring adding backup QB in case they trade Jimmy Garoppolo  —  INDIANAPOLIS — For a team that allegedly isn't going to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the Patriots surely aren't acting like it.  —  The Patriots are exploring their options among backup quarterbacks …