Blue Jays sign reliever Jake Petricka to minor-league deal  —  TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed reliever Jake Petricka to a minor-league deal.  —  The deal, announced by the team on Thursday, includes an invitation to Major League spring training.

Aging Mets will have to defy all analytical odds to make playoffs  —  Even as the Mets have made good on their intention to take advantage of this slow-moving free agent market, it's impossible not to notice they're not getting any younger.  —  And that seems to matter more than ever …

Cardinals' DeJong hits all the right notes  —  Paul DeJong is pictured preparing for Cardinals spring training on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Derrick Goold  —  Paul DeJong after concert with Palm Beach Symphony principal cellist Claudio Jaffe and PBS concertmaster Evija Ozolins.

The Boss Is Here: Inside Derek Jeter's Quest To Turn Around the Marlins  — Derek Jeter is the product of a baseball culture where success, support and profitability were facts of life.  The Marlins' new CEO is playing defense right now, but he's as confident as ever.

Puerto Rico wins back-to back Caribbean Series titles  —  GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) Jonathan Morales hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Puerto Rico won its second straight Caribbean Series title, rallying past the Dominican Republic 9-4 on Thursday night.

WISCONSIN RESIDENTS PRESALE OPPORTUNITY BEGINS TOMORROW  —  The Milwaukee Brewers today announced the opportunity for Brewers fans to purchase tickets to any of the 10 home games against the Chicago Cubs this season.  The Crew wants Miller Park to be filled with loud and proud Wisconsin fans …

Pirates ‘deeply concerned’ after kidnapping of Elias Diaz's mother  —  The mother of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz has been kidnapped in Venezuela, according to multiple reports.  —  The Pirates issued a statement Thursday saying, “We are all shocked and deeply concerned for Elias' mother …

St. Louis Cardinals intent on ending 2-year playoff drought  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) Mike Matheny is well aware that he has yet to earn a World Series championship ring during his six seasons as the manager of the Cardinals.  It's not like St. Louis, an 11-time World Series champion, would let him forget.

As teammates throw, Reyes watches, waits, set to flaunt his health  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • While work continued Thursday on the landscaping around the Cardinals' clubhouse, the tarp was peeled back from the six pack of mounds that right outside the door at Roger Dean Stadium.

Inside Baseball MLB Notes |  What is Red Sox's backup plan?  —  Inside Baseball from Jon Heyman brings you news, notes, rumors and more from (nearly) all 30 MLB teams.  For a deep dive into baseball's messy offseason, click here.  For a look at what holes remain for 14 teams hopeful to content this season, click here.

In face of low expectations, Rangers starters for 2018 see bounce-back season  —  Tenth in a series of spring training previews  —  The bellyaching over the starting rotation Jon Daniels has pieced together for the Texas Rangers' new season has reached the pandemic level …

IMG Academy, MLBPA join forces to host free-agent camp in Florida  —  Major League Baseball's Players Association has partnered with the IMG Academy in Florida to host a spring training camp for free agents.  —  The camp is being organized in response to a historically slow free agent market this winter.

Busy Brewers shift spring focus from rebuild to winning  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — The rebuilding plan for the  —  Milwaukee Brewers is a smashing success, so much so that they're not really rebuilding anymore.  —  Bold moves to trade for  —  Christian Yelich and sign free agent  —  Lorenzo Cain sent a message.