Martinez rockets up Hall of Fame ballot as DHs gain respect  —  NEW YORK (AP) Edgar Martinez is rocketing up the Hall of Fame ballot, boosted 13 years after his final swing by new-age statistical analyses and campaigning.  —  His percentage of the vote more than doubled from 2015 to last year …

A-Rod doing double duty, adds ESPN's ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ gig to go along with his FOX duties  —  A-Rod is replacing Aaron Boone once again.  —  First, at third base in the Bronx.  —  Now, in the broadcast booth for ESPN.  —  Alex Rodriguez will be part of the Worldwide Leader's …

Stats defined Chipper Jones' Braves career  —  Chipper Jones is a Hall of Fame shoo-in.  —  The Atlanta Braves' top pick in 1990 retired in 2012 as one of baseball's best switch-hitters.  Jones, who finished with 2,724 hits and 468 homers, hit above .300 from both sides of the plate.

Angels, Dodgers plan to extend protective netting for next season  —  The Angels and Dodgers plan to extend protective netting at their stadiums next season.  —  The teams are the latest to respond to an incident at Yankee Stadium last September, in which a girl was seriously injured when hit by a foul ball.

New Blue Jays outfielder Grichuk expects to be a hit in AL East  —  While presumably ever grateful to be a major leaguer, there are two big reasons Randal Grichuk didn't mind being sprung from the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Pegged as the Blue Jays everyday outfielder for 2018 …

White Sox announce spring training broadcast schedule  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Chicago White Sox fans will have the opportunity to watch 19 of the team's spring training games.  —  The Sox on Tuesday announced their 2018 spring training broadcast schedule, and six games will be televised from Arizona …

Former top Astros prospect Jon Singleton suspended 100 games after third failed drug test  —  Former top Houston Astros prospect Jonathan Singleton has been suspended 100 games after a third positive drug test.  Astros right-hander Dean Deetz was also suspended 80 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Giants still have payroll flexibility after adding Jackson  —  SAN FRANCISCO  —  Austin Jackson is considered a utility outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, who are searching for another player at the position as spring training nears.  —  Jackson joined the Giants on a $6 million …

Brewers Reportedly Make Offer For Christian Yelich  —  6:30pm: The two sides have indeed been discussing Yelich, tweets Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, but Milwaukee is just one of many teams in the running.  Talks between Milwaukee and Miami are not in advanced stages, per Frisaro, who adds that Brinson is a target for the Marlins in talks.

Jeff Wilpon defends Mets payroll  —  NEW YORK — Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon defended the team's offseason spending, saying more moves are likely before Opening Day and during the season.  —  “Being top five in payroll, I don't think that won us a World Series,” he said Tuesday during a media gathering.

Since 1990, Braves have fielded more top prospects than any other team  —  Dynamic Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna was named by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the sport ahead of the 2018 season.  —  He is not the first Braves hot-shot to land atop the list of future stars.