Pirates sign closer Rivero to 4-year deal  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates' rebuilding process will include closer Felipe Rivero.  —  The team has signed the left-handed reliever to a four-year contract that runs through the 2021 season.  The deal includes club options for 2022 and 2023.

CC Sabathia glad with addition of Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees back to ‘being that hated team’  —  The Yankees are embracing the hate.  —  CC Sabathia was still a free agent at the time the Bombers pulled off a blockbuster deal to acquire reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton.

Mets finalize 1-year deal with Adrian Gonzalez  —  NEW YORK — Free agent first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and the New York Mets have finalized a one-year contract for the $545,000 major league minimum.  —  The 35-year-old batted .242 for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season …

Royals sign outfielder who once made obscene gesture to Detroit fans  —  The Royals added depth to their outfield corps on Wednesday with the signing of Tyler Collins to a minor-league contract.  —  As part of his deal with the Royals, Collins was invited to spring training, which starts next month in Surprise, Ariz.

B-Lark University: Barry Larkin shapes young stars...until he's ready to manage the Reds  —  EVERY OFFSEASON, PLAYERS LIKE DEE GORDON AND FRANCISCO LINDOR SEEK OUT THE PRIVATE COACHING OF BARRY LARKIN.  TAKE A VISIT TO B-LARK UNIVERSITY.  —  ORLANDO - It wasn't yet winter break …

Nationals' year of reckoning includes overlooked free agent: GM Mike Rizzo  —  WASHINGTON — It's almost spring training, and while the most powerful man in this city has doctors attesting he's in fine health, folks around here can't help but fear this could be the Washington Nationals' last stand.

Column: At White Sox hitters camp, Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert providing plenty of smiles  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Chicago's next baseball superstar thought it was funny the other day when he passed White Sox manager Rick Renteria in the hallway at Camelback Ranch.

Reliever Jeremy Jeffress pleads guilty to 2016 DWI charge  —  Milwaukee Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress pleaded guilty to a DWI charge on Tuesday stemming from a 2016 arrest.  —  Jeffress, then with the Texas Rangers, was arrested on Aug. 26, 2016, by Dallas police.

Hawaii false alarm isn't what woke up Hamels for 2018  —  DALLAS  —  Cole Hamels is usually up before the sun to get in an off-season workout during his family's annual sojourn to Hawaii, but on Saturday, after a night out with friends, the left-hander actually allowed himself to sleep in.

Areas of improvement the Rangers have to see in 2018 from veteran starter Cole Hamels  —  Editor's note: This is part of a series of Rangers player outlooks for the offseason.  SportsDay Rangers insider Gerry Fraley breaks down how each player did in 2017 and what to expect going forward.

Twins hire retired Justin Morneau as special assistant  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have hired the recently retired Justin Morneau as a special assistant.  —  The team said Wednesday that Morneau will become the fourth former Twins player from his generation to get the job …

Are the Detroit Tigers the worst team in MLB?  Bleacher Report says yes  —  We're about a month away from a new era of Detroit Tigers baseball.  —  That's right, pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Lakeland, Fla. on Feb. 13, and the team's first full-squad workout is Feb. 19.