Top News:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
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.
RELATED:
John Harper / New York Daily News:
CC Sabathia on how Yankees will handle the hype — and the hate — of being must-see attraction in baseball — TAMPA — Let's start with the obvious: Justin Verlander is right. — The Yankees may have that Evil Empire feel to them again, adding Giancarlo Stanton to a lineup that led …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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 …
RELATED:
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
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 …
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds' pitcher Homer Bailey hoping to put frustration behind him — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Homer Bailey's look answers the question. And the answer is: — “What the blank do you think?” — The question was about how frustrating the last 3 1/2 years have been. — “It gets very frustrating,” he says.
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Joe Maddon is Chicago's most colorful and confident manager — Chicago Tribune — Baseball history always will laud manager Joe Maddon for changing the culture with the Cubs. — Now Maddon supplies it. — Creating a bizarre backdrop for the start of spring training in Mesa …
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
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.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland will attempt to fix Matt Harvey — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Of all the members of the Mets' rotation, there are the most questions about Matt Harvey. Once an ace, Harvey is now an unknown after back-to-back disappointing seasons and a string of surgeries and injuries.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland looking to win in New York again
Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland looking to win in New York again
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
ESPN:
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.
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners' Ryon Healy Out Four To Six Weeks Following Hand Surgery
Mariners' Ryon Healy Out Four To Six Weeks Following Hand Surgery
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Associated Press:
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 …
Discussion:
miamiherald, Halos Heaven …, Let's Go Tribe and ESPN
RELATED:
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani impresses with bat, demeanor at Angels workout
Shohei Ohtani impresses with bat, demeanor at Angels workout
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and USA Today
Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
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.
David Furones / Sun-Sentinel:
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.
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Mookie Betts: “No hard feelings” over arbitration hearing — FORT MYERS, Fla. — If Mookie Betts doesn't eventually sign a long-term contract extension with the Boston Red Sox, he insists it won't be because of anything that was said about him during an arbitration hearing last month.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
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 …
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
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 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman looking to rebound from disappointing 2017 season — TAMPA — Aroldis Chapman is looking to rebound from last season, when he didn't come close to living up to his $86 million deal. — Chapman, who signed his five-year contract last offseason …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers' Matt Bush: ‘There is no doubt in my mind’ that I'm a starting pitcher — SURPRISE, Ariz. — The biggest question about the Rangers' planned six-man rotation is whether Matt Bush can transition to the role. — Bush, who has already thrown as many as 55 pitches in a bullpen session this winter, said he is certain he can.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball