MLB: Eric Hosmer, San Diego Padres reach agreement on eight-year deal  —  Free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer has reached preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract with the San Diego Padres, pending a physical, a person with direct knowledge of the deal says.

Former Ray Evan Longoria gives thumbs-down to team's Dickerson decision  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Evan Longoria is in his first season as a San Francisco Giant after 10 years in a Tampa Bay Rays uniform, but he still follows his old organization from a new league and the opposite coast.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson confident in roster after adding Jason Vargas  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New acquisition Jason Vargas arrived to camp Sunday, and Mets general manager Sandy Alderson expects the lefty will be the last roster addition.  —  “With Jason signing, we're pretty much where we want to be …

Carpenter, whose back is stiff, will work mostly at first base  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Matt Carpenter, programmed to play several positions this spring, will be spending most of his time defensively at first base when the Cardinals start their full-scale workouts on Monday.

Rangers nix deal with closer Seung Hwan Oh  —  The Texas Rangers have decided not to sign closer Seung Hwan Oh, after an issue arose over his physical exam, according to multiple reports.  —  The Dallas Morning News reported that the Rangers discovered “disconcerting issues” with the right-hander's arm when examining his MRI results.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton figure to bring excitement to Yankees' batting practice  —  TAMPA — On Monday, the fun really begins, as Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are expected to taking batting practice on the field.  —  Will they be in the same hitting group?  —  “We'll see,” Aaron Boone said with a smile.

Detroit Tigers utility man Ronny Rodriguez excited for big league shot  —  Watch Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire observer players perform drills at first base on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018 in Lakeland, Fla. Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Ask Ronny Rodriguez …

Dodgers All-Star Cody Bellinger plans to avoid a sophomore slump … Cody Bellinger slipped through the netting of a Camelback Ranch batting cage and gazed at a pitching machine.  Dodgers hitting coach Turner Ward manned the contraption, which dolloped late spin onto each offering.

Phillies bet big on Tommy Hunter's cutter making him a reliable bullpen arm  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Spring training began last February and Tommy Hunter was without a team.  The reliever, after battling injuries the previous season, was jobless.  —  Tampa Bay invited the right-hander to camp …

Next Slide  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Before he signed with the Cincinnati Reds on a minor-league deal, veteran infielder Cliff Pennington got some frustrating feedback from another team showing interest in him.  That team pointed out that last season with the Los Angeles Angels he didn't play much shortstop, starting only four games.