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 …

Zack Greinke: ‘Wish every park was neutral’ so humidor not needed  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke is beginning his third season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and this time he will be throwing home games with baseballs that have been stored in a humidor.

CC Sabathia is at the center of Yankees Universe  —  TAMPA, Fla. - These days, the center of Yankees Universe is generally located at CC Sabathia's locker.  —  From his corner space at Steinbrenner Field, Sabathia dispenses pitching advice and shares a career's worth of learned experience to anyone who inquires.

Toronto signs veteran left-hander Jaime Garcia to 1-year deal  —  The Blue Jays have signed Jaime Garcia to a 1-year contract with a club option for 2019, the team announced Thursday.  —  The veteran lefty will make $8 million in base salary in 2018 and can earn an extra $2 million in incentives.

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 …

Mariners among teams in attendance for ex-Husky Tim Lincecum's showcase in Kent  —  The showcase was held at Driveline Baseball in Kent.  Lincecum's fastball was clocked around 90-92 mph.  —  The Mariners were one of 20-plus major-league teams that scouted the pitching showcase …

Indians taking ‘long view’ with Danny Salazar's shoulder recovery  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Indians pitcher Danny Salazar is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season, another early blow to the team following the death of manager Terry Francona's father.

Mariners' Ryon Healy Out Four To Six Weeks Following Hand Surgery  —  The Mariners announced today that first baseman Ryon Healy underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his right hand and will be sidelined for four to six weeks.  Depending on which end of that timeline Healy's recovery ultimately falls …

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.

Rob Manfred: Player input ‘significantly altered’ MLB's positions  —  Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said rule changes to help pace of play will be announced before spring training games begin.  —  Manfred did not specify what the new rules would be while addressing reporters …

Jim Thome reflects on Hall of Fame career, White Sox memories  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Jim Thome's going into the Hall of Fame as an Cleveland Indian, but he sure sounds like a Chicagoan.  —  There's a reason he chose to live in Chicago and work in the White Sox front office despite spending 13 …

Photos: The Braves at spring training  —  Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte signs autographs for fans after taking morning batting practice at Champion Stadium on Thursday, Feb 15, 2018, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.  Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

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.

Notes: Back in Brewers uniform, Yovani Gallardo looks forward to challenge of making club  —  PHOENIX - There aren't many familiar faces remaining from his first go-round with the Milwaukee Brewers, but Yovani Gallardo looked right at home as he suited up as No. 49 once again for the first spring workout at Maryvale Baseball Park.

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 …

Potential new bidder for Panthers is wealthy SC businessman, sources say  —  A wealthy South Carolina businessman named Ben Navarro is actively exploring a bid to buy the Carolina Panthers, multiple sources familiar with the matter told the Observer.  —  In December, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson …