Royals' Jorge Soler strains oblique, could begin season on disabled list  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  Just eight days before opening day, Royals outfielder Jorge Soler's spring hit a familiar and painful snag.  —  Soler, 25, strained an oblique muscle while competing in a minor-league game Sunday afternoon, Royals manager Ned Yost said.

It's looking like the Yankees and Red Sox will dominate the AL East again soon  —  A rival executive makes an interesting point: By 2019, the AL East could be back to what it was for much of the 2000s — the Yankees, Red Sox and everyone else.  —  Predicting the future is always dangerous …

2017 Power Rankings: Best and worst case for every team  —  When 2016 ended, the Chicago Cubs were on top of the baseball world as World Series champions for the first time since 1908.  With the bulk of their team returning, the Cubs unsurprisingly open 2017 in the same place in our rankings.

Los Angeles Dodgers 2017 preview  —  This is the latest of our 2017 team previews.  Each week during spring training, we'll preview a division with a team each day (Monday-Friday).  This week: The NL West, beginning with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Up next: San Francisco Giants  —  LAST SEASON

Andrew Knapp homers, makes case to stick with Phillies  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Andrew Knapp reported to spring training with a job pretty much secured.  The Phillies all but named him the team's backup catcher before camp opened.  No pressure.  —  Knapp, who has yet to reach the majors …

Barry Bonds, Pac-Man and the greatest baseball fun fact of all time  —  Baseball's greatest fun fact was born in three stages: on the last day of the first half of the 2004 season, on the last day of the 2004 season and, many years later, when a young man was kicking stones along the river bank …

Blue Jays Tell Mat Latos He Won't Make Team  —  Blue Jays righty Mat Latos has been told he won't make the team, and Latos must now decide whether to accept a Triple-A assignment from the club or become a free agent, according to Jays radio broadcaster Mike Wilner (Twitter links).

International Reviews: Boston Red Sox  —  Total signings: 6.  —  The Red Sox were going to be in their second signing period under the penalty of being unable to sign anyone subject to the bonus pools for more than $300,000.  Instead, just before July 2, Major League Baseball banned …

Rangers Release James Loney  —  The Rangers have announced they've released veteran first baseman James Loney.  They've also optioned righty Eddie Gamboa to Triple-A Round Rock and reassigned outfielder Jared Hoying to Round Rock.  In addition, righty Anthony Bass and catcher Steven Lerud …

The Astros' Rotation Stunk in April 2016.  Were Their Starters too Similar?  —  Last May, after the Astros had completed a miserable 7-17 April, Ken Rosenthal noted the sorry state of the team's starting rotation and proposed a reason the team was in this spot.  He also hypothesized a cause.

Wong would rather be traded than platoon at second base  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Second baseman Kolten Wong expressed confusion and frustration Sunday about the news that the Cardinals are considering a platoon approach at Wong's position to start the regular season.