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 …

Sandy Alderson and Mets are confident that better health can turn things around in 2018  —  Sandy Alderson said the Mets are monitoring the market for a possible second baseman, but there is a chance they will open spring training Feb. 14 without a move.  With four starting pitchers coming …

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.

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 …

Why does everybody love Vlad Guerrero so much?  —  Everything about Vladimir Guerrero was impossible.  Maybe that's one reason everyone loved him.  —  It's a minor miracle that he escaped an impoverished childhood in the Dominican Republic to reach the majors.

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.

Browns' John Dorsey indicates Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield are in the discussion at No. 1  —  MOBILE, Ala. — Browns GM John Dorsey will meet with Wyoming's Josh Allen and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield at the Senior Bowl, but has already indicated they're in the discussion for the Browns' pick at No. 1.

Cleveland indians will go to salary arbitration with right-hander Trevor Bauer  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians, it seems, have adopted a file-and-trial approach to arbitration.  —  It means that the next time they sit down to negotiate with right-hander Trevor Bauer …

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 …

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.