Top News:
John Harper / Baltimore Sun:
Will Yu Darvish signing signal a spring training free-agent thaw as camps open? — As spring training begins, the real intrigue is as much about who's not in camp as who is there. — But maybe that will change in a hurry, starting with Yu Darvish going to the Cubs on Saturday for six years …
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Patience pays off in Cubs' pursuit of Yu Darvish — Chicago Tribune — It wasn't the spring surprise Cubs President Theo Epstein pulled off two years ago with the Dexter Fowler signing. — If only Yu Darvish had waited a few more days, he could've waltzed into spring training unannounced …
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:
baseballmusings.com and Let's Go Tribe
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.
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, Over the Monster, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Twinkie Town and Bucs Dugout
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
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:
RELATED:
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.
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
Buster OlneyESPN Senior / ESPN:
Olney: Can Cleveland sustain a contender? — Chief Wahoo will soon disappear from the uniforms of the Cleveland Indians, but the caricature might be more prominent than ever at Progressive Field, on the jerseys and hats of fans angry about the decision to abandon the logo …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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.
