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Fox Sports:
Stars back on the field as pitchers, catchers begin workouts — Justin Verlander is looking forward to a full season with the Houston Astros, while the New York Mets are hoping for a healthier year for their starting staff. — The New York Yankees? Well, this season may not be about their pitchers …
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ESPN:
Justin Verlander tweets ‘I can think of reason’ why Yankees aren't team to beat in AL — The New York Yankees have been widely projected this offseason as a World Series contender, but Justin Verlander has offered a subtle reminder that the Houston Astros are still a force to be reckoned with.
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MLB Baseball News …
Fox Sports:
White Sox have high expectations after 67-win season — GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Coming off a 67-win season, the Chicago White Sox have high expectations. — “It's a good group of young men, and we're looking forward to seeing how it plays itself out,” manager Rick Renteria said Wednesday …
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Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
WGN-AM named new radio home of the White Sox
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
White Sox Sign Hector Santiago
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
Baseball's back! Here's what Cubs and White Sox players did while they were away
Baseball's back! Here's what Cubs and White Sox players did while they were away
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies starting pitchers share a fleeting benchmark: 200 innings | Bob Brookover — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Go to the lockers of the Phillies' starting pitchers on the first day of spring training and they will all tell you the same thing. Their goal for the 2018 season is to pitch 200 innings.
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Fox Sports:
NL champion Dodgers getting started again with familiar 5 — GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) All-Star closer Kenley Jansen likes the way the defending National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers are getting started again - with a very familiar rotation. — Even with Yu Darvish already in a different NL blue …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Spring training: Phillies trying prospect Roman Quinn at shortstop — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Roman Quinn has not played shortstop since 2014. And when he did, he struggled, amassing 61 errors in 149 games in the low minors. But that has not stopped Gabe Kapler from trying to see if Quinn …
Fox Sports:
After offseason ranching, Cueto back with new-look Giants — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Johnny Cueto's offseason included time tending to cows, chickens and goats on his 500-acre ranch back home in the Dominican Republic. And it included a decision to stay with the San Francisco Giants rather …
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks on track to unveil humidor in 2018 — Japanese right-handed pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano speaks at an introductory press conference at Salt River Fields on Feb. 12, 2018. David Wallace/azcentral sports — Chase Field's standing as one of baseball's most hitter-friendly ballparks is subject to change.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, FanGraphs Baseball and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks at spring-training practice … For much of last season, the Diamondbacks' rotation featured a pair of pitchers who delivered ace-caliber production and three others who turned in well above-average results, all of whom logged more than 150 innings. All five are back for this season.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Fox Sports:
Stewart agrees to $575,000, 1-year deal with Braves — KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) Catcher Chris Stewart has agreed to $575,000, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. — The 35-year-old hit .183 in 51 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. He is a seven-year major league veteran.
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves To Sign Chris Stewart
Braves To Sign Chris Stewart
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Bucs Dugout and Talking Chop
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Aaron Judge won't use injured shoulder as excuse for midseason slump — TAMPA, Fla. — For the first time, Aaron Judge admitted that the left shoulder he had arthroscopic surgery on in November started bothering him around the All-Star break last season — right about the time the New York …
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Fox Sports:
Reds open camp with only 1 open spot in the rotation — GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) The Reds opened camp on Wednesday with one unclaimed spot in the rotation, a major improvement over last year. The question is whether their three veteran starters can make it to opening day without any setbacks.
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Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
Angels planning to ease Shohei Ohtani into things with a six-man rotation — Ohtani will also get a chance to hit with the Angels — On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels opened their spring training camp in Arizona, which means Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani reported for his first workout with the organization.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Comeback, ESPN, Los Angeles Times and Halos Heaven
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
‘Chuck’ Norris gets a kick out of joining Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • Even though the Cardinals more or less evened the score with righthander Bud Norris as the years went on, the diehard fans won't forget the start of Norris' career with the Houston Astros.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mozeliak confident Cards have done enough
Mozeliak confident Cards have done enough
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Joe Maddon melds baseball, art in surrealistic day at Cubs camp — Chicago Tribune — When asked last month to speculate on Joe Maddon's theme for the 2018 season, Ben Zobrist asked what his manager had been reading of late. — Informed Maddon had read Walter Issacson's best-selling biography …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Is Joe Maddon changing his hair style?
Fox Sports:
Twins spring training brings rotation questions, openings — FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) On the first day of spring training for the Minnesota Twins, it was difficult to watch the drills on the field without thinking about the potential starting pitchers who weren't there.
Fox Sports:
Astros start workouts with an unfamiliar ring - as champions — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) Amid the long tossing, sprinting and bullpen sessions that comprised Houston's first spring workout, the Astros also informally dedicated time to a balancing act. — Never in the Astros' previous 55 seasons …