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.

Matheny says Martinez ‘needs to be one of the best in the league’  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • At 12-11, Carlos Martinez was the Cardinals' ace last year.  But that's not enough for manager Mike Matheny, who is hopeful that new pitching coach Mike Maddux, a handler of top-shelf types in Max Scherzer …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Red Sox's Hanley Ramirez wants ‘100 RBIs and 30 homers’ in 2018  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Hanley Ramirez has a solution for the Boston Red Sox's power-hitting deficiency.  —  A healthy Hanley Ramirez.  —  “Oh, yeah.  No doubt,” Ramirez said Friday after reporting to spring training.

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 …

Here's what the Giants thought of Tim Lincecum's bullpen session  —  After taking a full season off, the former Giants' ace is making a comeback bid  —  SCOTTSDALE, Arizona-The Giants are fond of offering second chances, and on Thursday, the club scouted a bullpen session of another fan favorite attempting to make a comeback.

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,” …

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.

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.

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.

Clint Frazier wants to be a Yankee, but overcrowded outfield makes future uncertain  —  TAMPA — Clint Frazier's short hair is here to stay.  —  And he hopes to stay in the Bronx for a long time, too.  —  “I want to be here,” said Frazier, whose name surfaced in the Yankees' trade talks …

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.