Vikings DT Sharrif Floyd's career in jeopardy due to nerve issue in knee  —  Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd's career is in jeopardy due to complications from knee surgery the former first-round draft pick underwent last fall.  —  The nerve that controls Floyd's quadriceps …

Cardinals could be sleeper for Quintana  —  Word is, the Chicago White Sox believe the perceived favorites Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates have been largely “passive” in their pursuits of Jose Quintana.  If that's the case, someone else such as the St. Louis Cardinals could sneak in and grab Quintana.

Saving the day?  Rays go with catchers Derek Norris and Jesus Sucre  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays went into the offseason seeking to improve a catching corps that has seemed perpetually in need of an upgrade since — save for a brief flash from Dioner Navarro — the halcyon days of Toby Hall and John Flaherty.

Ichiro can't fathom retirement: 'I think I'll just die'  —  JUPITER  —  Ichiro Suzuki doesn't believe in vacations.  —  The last time he took one — 2004 or '05, he doesn't recall which — was a week-long trip to Milan, Italy.  He worked out pretty much the entire time and said the excursion threw …

Nationals Name Blake Treinen Closer  —  Nationals manager Dusty Baker said today that righty Blake Treinen will take the team's closer role to open the season, as Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post was among those to report on Twitter.  He won a camp battle with young righty Koda Glover …

Packers think Ty Montgomery ‘has that ability’ to be a No. 1 running back  —  Mike McCarthy doesn't look at Ty Montgomery as a receiver anymore.  But does the Green Bay Packers coach consider the third-year pro a No. 1 running back after Montgomery made the full-time position switch midway through last season?

Swarm of bees makes silly baseball-playing humans dive for cover  —  In the surest sign yet that it's high time for Opening Day, we present this bee invasion that happened in Thursday's Spring Training game between the Rockies and Padres.  —  With the Rockies up handily and everyone …

Rougned Odor gets 6 years and 2 horses in contract extension with Rangers  —  The Texas Rangers made their six-year, $49.5 million extension with second baseman Rougned Odor official Thursday.  And a previously unreported contract perk was revealed in the process: The Rangers sealed the deal by including a couple of horses.

John Harbaugh: Expectation is to win multiple Super Bowls with Joe Flacco  —  Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh believes Joe Flacco is an elite quarterback, a franchise one and an eventual member in a very prestigious club.  —  In the 51-year history of the Super Bowl …

Seattle Mariners 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 AL West: Texas Rangers |  Houston Astros.  Up next: Los Angeles Angels  —  LAST SEASON

Next Slide  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Leon Roberts had a standard list of questions he liked to ask young players when he was the roving hitting instructor for the Reds.  It was the early 2000s, the tail end of baseball's steroid era, and the answers unsurprisingly reflected the times.

Bucs want an Adrian Peterson scouting report from Jameis Winston  —  The Bucs may need a running back, at least for the first three games next season, and Jameis Winston was pictured on Twitter Tuesday working out with Vikings free agent Adrian Peterson and trainer Tim Grover.

2017 Major League Preview: NL West  —  BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Armed with the deepest pitching staff in baseball and a more balanced, dangerous lineup with the addition of Logan Forsythe, the Dodgers not only win their fifth straight division title but claim their first World Series crown since 1988.

Mets closer Jeurys Familia suspended 15 games for violating MLB domestic violence policy  —  Jeurys Familia has been suspended 15 games for violating baseball's policy on domestic violence, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday.  —  Familia, the Mets' All-Star closer …