Dominicans Use Defense, Pitching And Power To Push Venezuela To Brink In WBC  —  SAN DIEGO—The Dominican Republic is a team defined by its big bombers, an All-Star-driven juggernaut expected to pummel opponents into submission.  —  On Thursday night, the Dominicans showed they can win …

2017 MLB Mock Draft: The First Ten  —  Predicting the first round of the 2017 draft may prove a fool's errand.  —  Not because the draft is unpredictable and teams have less consensus among the top picks than ever with more looks and more information available, though both of those are true.

Surge at the 6-spot could signal end of the glove-first SS  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) As an All-Star shortstop in the 1970s and '80s, Larry Bowa recalls having a clear job description:  —  “Catch the balls and make all the plays.”  —  Bowa typified the traditional sandpaper shortstop …

The Quest to Determine the Second Best Pitcher in Baseball  —  As long as Clayton Kershaw is still pitching, every other starter in the majors is competing for the silver medal.  Who's no. 2?  According to a bunch of big leaguers, it's Max Scherzer.

Kevin Kiermaier deal is relief for him and safe risk worth taking for Rays  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — For a guy who said he couldn't talk much about the six-year, $53.5 million contract extension he will soon sign, Kevin Kiermaier shared how thankful, humbled and blessed he felt.

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez to blame for fatal boating crash, investigation concludes  —  Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez - drunk, high on cocaine and speeding - was behind the wheel and to blame when his boat plowed into a jetty off South Beach, killing two others, police concluded in a report released Thursday.

11 biggest questions remaining in spring training  —  MESA, Ariz. - Yes, there are things going on in spring training.  Real things.  The thrill-an-inning WBC and Mets “prospect” Tim Tebow and his stalker (who's ever heard of a stalker for a minor leaguer?) are getting all the attention.

Scott Boras rips Blue Jays over handling of Sanchez salary  —  TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays have renewed the 2017 contract of all-star right-hander Aaron Sanchez for the major-league minimum of $535,000, a decision influential agent Scott Boras described as the “harshest treatment any team could provide a player.”

The complicated state of Haitian Dominicans in MLB  —  Arroz con pollo waits on the table at Miguel Sano's duplex condo, not far from Target Field.  Sano's sister is visiting from the Dominican Republic, and her husband has made the Twins slugger's favorite dish — mounds of it, enough to feed a baseball team.

Yankees' Greg Bird homers off Clay Buchholz to continue hot streak … TAMPA, Fla. — Chris Carter was supposed to start Wednesday night at first base but was a late scratch because of an illness.  Greg Bird, scheduled to have the night off, was pressed into duty and homered in his first at-bat.

Indians outfielder goes 1-for-3 with double, three RBIs in debut  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have done their best to simulate a game environment for Michael Brantley throughout the left fielder's comeback this spring.  On Wednesday afternoon, Jason Kipnis helped out …