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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Brandon Morrow's injury-plagued odyssey led him to role of Cubs closer  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Replacing near-flawless Wade Davis despite a lack of recent closer experience doesn't faze Brandon Morrow.  —  “I don't think mentally it will be too big for me,” Morrow said at spring training Wednesday in a calm but direct tone.

Dan Straily, Brandon Maurer lose in salary arbitration  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Pitcher Dan Straily of Miami and Brandon Maurer of Kansas City have lost their salary arbitration cases, leaving players with an 11-10 lead with one decision remaining.  —  Straily was awarded $3,375,000 Friday instead …

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 …

Cincinnati Reds notes: Cliff Pennington's minor league deal is major move for Reds  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cliff Pennington signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, but the way Bryan Price talked Friday, it looks like Pennington is a major part of the team's plans.

Profar wants to help Rangers win, not to be traded  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  Jurickson Profar made his spring-training debut Friday morning, saying that he doesn't want to be traded and didn't spend the off-season hoping for a trade.  —  But, as has been the case for years now, he wants to be on the field regularly.

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.

Here's a Marlin player who's glad he wasn't traded and agrees with the rebuilding plan … Giancarlo Stanton asked to be traded.  So did Christian Yelich.  —  None wanted to be part of a Marlins rebuild.  They wanted out.  —  Dan Straily didn't.  He wanted to stay.  —  “Glad they're gone,” Straily said.

Tommy La Stella envisions a motivated Jake Arrieta: ‘He always pitches with a chip on his shoulder’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The team that eventually signs Jake Arrieta will receive an extremely motivated pitcher.  —  That's the view of Cubs infielder and friend Tommy La Stella …