Top News:
ESPN:
Yu Darvish, Cubs agree to 6-year deal worth $126 million — The Chicago Cubs and free-agent ace pitcher Yu Darvish have agreed to a six-year, $126 million deal, a source confirmed to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. — The deal, which includes an opt-out clause and no-trade protection …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and baseballmusings.com
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Kyle Downing / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs To Sign Yu Darvish — 6:02pm: Darvish's opt-out comes after the 2019 season, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets. — 5:17pm: The Cubs and Yu Darvish have agreed to terms on a contract that will bring the righty to Chicago, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports on Twitter.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, MLB Daily Dish, Purple Row, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Twinkie Town and Bucs Dugout
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
What does the Darvish deal mean for other free agents and teams? — Is $126 million in February any different from $126 million in November? After months of waiting and speculation, Yu Darvish signed with the club many predicted he would end up with at the beginning of the offseason.
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: For the Cubs to become serious World Series contenders again, it had to be Yu — Chicago Tribune — Ask Cubs fans how much longer pitcher Jon Lester has left on his contract and almost nobody will know. — Even fewer will care. — After Lester helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016 …
Brian T. Smith / Houston Chronicle:
At last, your World Series champion Astros are back
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Pinstripe Alley
ESPN:
Zack Wheeler undergoes six months of injections to heal pitching arm — New York Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler has undergone a series of injections to get back to full health following a stress reaction in his right arm that cut his 2017 season short. — Wheeler told the New York Post …
RELATED:
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Zack Wheeler taking prescribed injections to revitalize his career — PORT ST. LUCIE — Zack Wheeler's desire to return to the Mets this season fully healthy is off the charts. Here is what you don't know about Wheeler fighting his way back: — In an effort to overcome the stress reaction …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
5 things to watch: Detroit Tigers pitchers, catchers first workout on Feb. 14 — With Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to spring training on Tuesday and have their first workout Wednesday, Free Press sports writer Anthony Fenech looks at five things to watch from the group this spring:
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Meet Franklin Perez: Why Detroit Tigers top prospect ‘the real deal’ — LAKELAND, Fla. - He's the one with the big, strong legs. An athletic kid — 6-foot-3 with tree-trunk legs, the coach says — but he hasn't seen him this morning. Maybe he's over there, in the outfield.
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.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Everyone knows who plays third base for Rangers. The key is knowing how to keep him on the field — The star of all Texas Rangers stars came to spring training injured last season and was out on Opening Day and injured again by the end of the season. That's how Adrian Beltre will likely remember 2017 …
Associated Press:
Don Mattingly on Marlins: 'I'm really excited about what's going on' — MIAMI — After all the deals and departures, Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly says he's enthused about the upcoming season. — Really, he is. — “You probably think I'm crazy but I'm really excited about what's going on …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Pitchers Mike Foltynewicz, Kendall Graveman lose in arbitration; players lead 7-6 — PHOENIX — Atlanta pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and Oakland pitcher Kendall Graveman have lost to their teams in salary arbitration. — The decisions Saturday left players with a 7-6 lead.
