Top News:
ESPN:
Everything you need to know about the 2018 season's new managers — A healthy dose of managerial changes is nothing new. — When spring training officially opens next week in Florida and Arizona, six teams — 20 percent — will have with a different skipper than the one who finished the 2017 season.
RELATED:
Brian T. Smith / Houston Chronicle:
At last, your World Series champion Astros are back — Jose Altuve digging into the box, staring straight back at the pitcher he's about to beat and ripping a sharp single to left field. — George Springer racing in from center, leaping into the air and somehow making a catch …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Pitchers and Catchers Report Soon. Which Teams Stand a Chance in 2018? — Picture an Olympic stadium, but not for skiing or skating or lugeing or curling. With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training this week, it's time to think of running. — That's right — running.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Schafer is back to take another shot with Cards — JUPITER, Fla. • The most likely roster allotment for the Cardinals this season would be 12 pitchers and five extra men to go with the eight regulars, equaling the 25-player limit. But, for the second season in succession …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter says shoulder injury ‘normal, not in the back of my mind’ — Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter, cones at his feet and coaches all around, shuffled latterly to catch a soft-tossed baseball, jab-stepped back to catch another, and then hustled forward to catch another.
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Mets center fielder Juan Lagares turns to swing doctor to give his offense a boost — PORT ST. LUCIE - Juan Lagares, like so many Mets, seemingly has had a standing medical appointment for the past few years to deal with the various injuries that have kept him out of the lineup.
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Welcome to spring: Five stories that could shape the Royals' 2018 season — The forever cliche is that hope springs eternal, even as your hometown club embarks on another rebuilding plan, even as the memories of champagne and parades fade into the past, even as the sport itself is racked by uncertainty …
Discussion:
Detroit News and Royals Review
Associated Press:
Mike Foltynewicz and Braves hold hearing over smallest gap since 1994 — PHOENIX — Pitcher Mike Foltynewicz went to salary arbitration with the Atlanta Braves over a difference of $100,000, the smallest gap in a hearing since 1994. — The 26-year-old right-hander asked Gary Kendellen …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
How did Erik Neander end up running the Rays? Well, it's interesting ... ST. PETERSBURG - The first major deal Erik Neander worked on after his October 2014 promotion to Rays vice president was the one that sent Wil Myers to the Padres and got Steven Souza Jr. and other pieces from the Nationals …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
No one wants to trade away this Rangers star any more — My, how times have changed, and it has nothing to do with the Texas Rangers turning into deficit hawks this off-season even though they have deep ownership pockets and annual TV income to spend lavishly.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Steve Contorno / Tampa Bay Times:
Ybor Rays? Team ready to announce Tampa ballpark site, Hagan says — TAMPA After years of speculation and courtship, the Tampa Bay Rays are finally expected to announce Friday that they want to relocate the team to Tampa, according to Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians, Trevor Bauer went to arbitration Thursday, but no winner has been announced — CLEVELAND, Ohio - Trevor Bauer went all in on the arbitration process this offseason and at the moment it's unclear if he won or lost. — Bauer and his representatives argued their case …
