Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
With position players set to report, Cardinals pitchers speed toward facing hitters — JUPITER, Fla. • One of the assignments for new bullpen coach Bryan Eversgerd in the early days of spring training has been “running first base.” That does not mean that he's in charge of first base …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Leone may ease Bowman's load — JUPITER, Fla. • Matt Bowman was the most-often employed Cardinals reliever with men on base last year, entering with 50 men on base and allowing just 15 to score, or 30 percent. — With the acquisition last month …
Rotoworld.com:
Lowdown: Straight Cash-ner — Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @Crawford_Milb on Twitter. — The trickle down effect has begun. Or so we hope. — Just about a week after the Cubs brought in Yu Darvish, we saw two free-agent hurlers put their name to paper on Thursday with Andrew Cashner signing …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts acknowledge ‘tension’ in Red Sox clubhouse
Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts acknowledge ‘tension’ in Red Sox clubhouse
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Over the Monster, Sporting News and MLB Baseball News …
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Chris Sale, Red Sox teammates confident in team's current roster
Chris Sale, Red Sox teammates confident in team's current roster
Discussion:
Over the Monster …, Boston Herald and Union-News
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets reach two-year deal with lefthander Jason Vargas — PORT ST. LUCIE — Looking for insurance on their often-injured rotation, the Mets have agreed to terms with Jason Vargas, a team source confirmed. — The two-year deal with an option for 2020 with the 35-year-old lefty …
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Associated Press:
Garcia gets $10 million for one year from Toronto — Lefthander Jaime Garcia and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract that includes a 2019 team option. — Garcia gets $8 million this year as part of the deal announced Thursday and Toronto has a $10 million option with a $2 million buyout.
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Colon confident, but can he crack Rangers' rotation? — SURPRISE, ARIZ. — Far be it for most media members to say anything snarky about Bartolo Colon's physical stature, but, alas, the hypocrisy of most knows no bounds. — Suffice it to say, he's not built like the normal baseball player.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
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Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
MLB stock watch: From superteams to enemies of Boras, here's where all 30 teams stand — Baseball has sprung in the warmer regions of our land, even while those of us in the north continue to face days of snow, fog and bitterness. For eons, writers have written about how the onset …
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Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
ESPN
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks at spring-training practice
Diamondbacks at spring-training practice
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Ballpark Digest
Associated Press:
Dodgers confident Koehler will help fill bullpen void — GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Dodgers are confident the free-agent acquisition of Tom Koehler will help fill a bullpen void left by Brandon Morrow's jump to the Chicago Cubs. — For Koehler, it's a move that represents a transition …
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Jorge Castillo / Washington Post:
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo feeling confident he'll receive contract extension
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo feeling confident he'll receive contract extension
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred: Pace of play rule changes will take effect this month — St. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Commissioner Rob Manfred emphatically said Thursday that there will be rule changes to improve the pace of play before the start of spring training games, whether he receives the union's approval or not.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, MLive.com, Bleacher Nation and Mets Merized Online
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Todd Rosiak / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Catching: Manny Piña will try to build on his breakout 2017 season — Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell has to set a roster for the regular season and sees spring training as a critical time to evaluate players. The process begins today. Milwaukee Brewers video — CONNECT
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Guessing game begins for Cubs leadoff man with no obvious choice in sight — Chicago Tribune — In the grand scheme of things, the endless debate over who will lead off for the Cubs this season is meaningless. — But because Joe Maddon's lineup machinations always are part …
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
A breakdown of Yu Darvish's 6 pitches — their effectiveness and usage — Chicago Tribune — Justin Grimm can validate Yu Darvish's wide array of pitches. — “I'm sure he has eight but only throws six,” said Grimm, who became reunited with Darvish with the Cubs after playing with him in 2012-13 with Rangers.
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — LAKELAND, Fla. — Ron Gardenhire's office at Joker Marchant Stadium is beginning to feel like home. On the second day of spring training, a number of papers hung on a previously blank bulletin board. On his desk, notes were scattered around. His cigar humidor was on its way.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and CBS Detroit
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Freddie Freeman reports to Braves camp, fit and clear-eyed — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Freddie Freeman's left wrist is completely healed, his eyes have been surgically corrected, and the Braves slugger is ready to do big things and hopes the team is, too. — Freeman arrived at spring training Friday …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Maikel Franco's crucial season begins with a new locker-room neighbor — CLEARWATER - In an annual ritual, the Phillies clubhouse staff inserts nameplates above each locker in the weeks leading up to spring training. There is little thought to the stall assignments as they are simply assigned for camp in numerical order.