Francisco Lindor's new look channels motivation to take Indians further this season  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Francisco Lindor arrived at Cleveland Indians' spring training camp Friday with a new look and a determined attitude.  —  Lindor generated lots of smiles and stares when he walked …

Good riddance!  Dan Straily says he's glad Stanton, Yelich are gone  —  JUPITER, Fla. — While Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich were happy to be traded by the Miami Marlins, right-hander Dan Straily says he wants to be a cornerstone of the team's rebuilding plan.  —  And that's not all.

Yankees prospect Thairo Estrada OK after gunshot wound from robbery attempt  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Thairo Estrada will be playing with a bullet lodged near his front right hip.  —  A victim of a single gunshot wound during a late January robbery attempt in Venezuela, the Yankees infield prospect …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Michael Lorenzen is taking his rotation shot seriously  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - When it comes to making the starting rotation, the odds could be stacked against Michael Lorenzen.  Not that he's concerned.  —  When Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price broke down his rotation competition earlier in the week …

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 …

David Freese thinks Pirates not trying hard enough to win  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — David Freese thinks the Pittsburgh Pirates are not trying hard enough to win.  —  “The last two years, we didn't do as well as we could have because of our environment.  That's what I think,” …

Diamondbacks, Jorge De La Rosa Agree To Minor League Deal  —  Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa appeared in the Diamondbacks clubhouse this morning, per multiple reporters at their spring facility in Arizona, indicating that the two sides had likely agreed to a reunion.

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.

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo feeling confident he'll receive contract extension … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — On Thursday, Mike Rizzo hopped aboard a 20-minute flight out of West Palm Beach, Fla. to represent the Washington Nationals at the Governor's Baseball Dinner at Tropicana Field.

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.

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 …

Wick claimed off waivers by San Diego, leaves Cardinals camp  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • In order to make room for Bud Norris on the 40-man roster and clear a way for the righthander to join the team for spring training, the Cardinals risked losing power reliever Rowan Wick, and did.

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 …

Rangers Sign Edinson Volquez To Two-Year Minor League Contract  —  The Rangers announced on Friday that they've signed right-hander Edinson Volquez to a minor league contract that contains invitations to Major League Spring Training for both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Cubs welcome Brewers fans with open arms — even if the feeling isn't mutual  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs have a message for Brewers' fans in Wisconsin hoping to catch a game at Wrigley Field this season:  —  “C'mon down.”  —  The Cubs' welcome is in stark contrast to a message sent …

Rockies' Gerardo Parra undergoes hand surgery, will likely miss 4-6 weeks  —  Broken hamate bone in right hand knocks him out of spring action  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra will miss significant time during spring training after undergoing surgery to remove a broken bone in his right hand.