Two potential pitching bargains the Mets are interested in  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — As the Mets continue their search for potential rotation insurance, two veteran left-handers are steady on their radar.  —  Jason Vargas and Jaime Garcia, both of whom are still jobless in this historically …

Cincinnati Reds notes: Catcher Devin Mesoraco is a realist  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Every time Devin Mesoraco got hurt, there always was next year.  —  He had the security of the four-year, $28 million deal he signed with the Reds before the 2015 season.  Injuries claimed each of his first three seasons …

It would take a lot for Chad Green not to fill same relief role with Yankees this season  —  TAMPA — Chad Green is being stretched out as a starter for spring training.  —  But it seems like it would take a lot for the Yankees to remove him from his dominant middle relief role.

Day 2 sends Wainwright, most of rotation to the mounds  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • From the moment the schedule was pinned to the corkboard in the Cardinals' clubhouse, there was something different about it from previous years.  As detailed in Thursday's Post-Dispatch, there is a heavy Mike Maddux influence …

Kirk Gibson to throw out first pitch for Dodgers on opening day  —  The Dodgers were one victory last fall from preempting the following sentence: It has been 30 years since the Dodgers last won the World Series.  —  But a championship always is worth celebrating, and so the Dodgers announced Thursday …

Salvador Perez, baseball's most durable catcher, has a goal: Better health  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  In the last five seasons, no catcher in Major League Baseball has started more games than the Royals' Salvador Perez.  No one has logged more innings or had more plate appearances or pulled on a catcher's mask more times.

Matt den Dekker returns to Mets with minor-league deal  —  Matt den Dekker is back.  The Mets signed their former outfield prospect to a minor-league deal on Thursday morning with an invite to major-league spring training.  —  Den Dekker, 30, played in 80 games with the Mets from 2013-2014.

Detroit Tigers' closer's role Shane Greene's to lose, Ron Gardenhire says  —  The Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers reported for the first day on the Spring Training season at Publix Field at Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland FL.  Wednesday February 14, 2018.  Kirthmon F. Dozier Detroit Free Press Wochit

Ryon Healy has surgery on hand, out 4-6 weeks  —  Seattle Mariners first baseman Ryon Healy is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur in his right hand.  —  The Mariners made the announcement Thursday.  Healy had the surgery in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Facing a brimming free agent pool at spring training's start, MLBPA boss decries owners' ‘excuses’  —  The Washington Post  —  Tony Clark never envisioned his annual tour of spring training camps beginning where it did this week: Inside the gates of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, at a camp without a name.

Stoneman Douglas assistant football coach Aaron Feis killed responding to shooting: ‘That is not firecrackers’  —  Sun Sentinel  —  Aaron Feis, an assistant football coach and security guard at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, was among the 17 people shot and killed Wednesday at the Parkland high school.

‘Ready to erase’ last year, Duffy wants to be a role model for his Royals teammates  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  Royals starter Danny Duffy stood at his locker Thursday morning and reminisced about the first time he found himself in this clubhouse located 45 minutes northwest of Phoenix.

Ohtani draws attention as Angels begin workouts  —  Shohei Ohtani emerged from the clubhouse and tipped his cap to the swarm of Japanese countrymen capturing his every move, cameras clicking a mile a minute.  —  He offered that signature smile, something Angels manager Mike Scioscia noticed right away …

Cubs' bullpen dancing among new Chicago-related features in ‘MLB The Show 18’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  If your digital Cubs bullpen can't do the Running Man, what's the point of even playing the video game?  —  Sony's team thought as much, and added the bullpen pitchers' signature dance moves …