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9:35 PM ET, February 20, 2018

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 Top News: 
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Agent Scott Boras stays course, calling free agent system ‘upside-down’  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - The San Diego Padres took the unusual step of announcing the terms of Eric Hosmer's new eight-year, $144 million contract, which includes an opt-out clause after the fifth season, and pointed out it's the largest agreement in franchise history.
RELATED:
USA Today:
David Price, vilified in Boston, helps lure J.D. Martinez for new chapter
Discussion: Boston Globe, NESN.com and CBS Boston
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Eric Hosmer to wear No. 30 with Padres in honor of the late Yordano Ventura
Discussion: DRaysBay
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:   Eric Hosmer ready for leadership role with Padres, will wear No. 30 to honor Yordano Ventura
Associated Press:   Red Sox reach agreement with J.D. Martinez, per source
Associated Press:
Don Mattingly says Bryce Harper off base to critique Marlins' moves: ‘Take care of your own dugout’  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Marlins manager Don Mattingly says Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper should not be critiquing Miami's offseason moves.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion: ESPN and Federal Baseball
RELATED:
USA Today:
Marlins' Don Mattingly to Bryce Harper: Mind your own business  —  Miami manager Don Mattingly had some choice words for Washington Nationals All-Star Bryce Harper, who questioned the Marlins' offseason moves.  —  “Take care of your business and we'll take care of ours,” Mattingly told reporters Tuesday morning from Jupiter, Fla..
Discussion: Bleacher Report
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Christian Yelich cites Jose Fernandez's death as turning point for Marlins franchise  —  PHOENIX — Christian Yelich leaves Miami with no hard feelings and one big regret.  —  Yelich, whose five-year tenure with the Marlins ended last month when he was traded to the Brewers …
Associated Press:   Marlins counting on their oldest player to close
Janie McCAuley / Associated Press:
New MLB rule: Pitching change a must for 7th mound visit by coach or manager  —  Managers or coaches must make a pitching change if they head to the mound for the seventh time in a game under baseball's new pace of play rules.  —  Commissioner Rob Manfred and executive Joe Torre explained …
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Mound visit rules troublesome to Cubs catcher Willson Contreras  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Try to stop an animated Willson Contreras from making the Cubs' seventh trip to the mound without a pitching change.  —  That will be the task for umpires assigned to enforce new rules governing pace of play …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Wrigley Field's chances for All-Star Game: ‘Stay tuned’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred was more forthcoming Tuesday about Wrigley Field's chances of hosting the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field than Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Gary Sanchez swings away with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge  —  TAMPA, Fla. - The Show moved to Field 2 on Tuesday afternoon, with fans watching behind a chain link fence as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge blasted batting practice pitches at Yankees camp.  —  Oh, and Gary Sanchez was in the hitting group again too.
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Greg Bird wants to become more reliable presence, and Yankees need him to be just that
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Aaron Boone ‘trying to contain’ his excitement about managing Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar
John Harper / New York Daily News:   Yankees' batting practice gives fans a glimpse of the intoxicating excitement Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton will bring
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Acquire Bryce Brentz  —  The Pirates have acquired outfielder Bryce Brentz from the Red Sox, according to an announcement from the Boston organization.  Cash considerations will make up the return.  —  Brentz, 29, is a former first-round pick who has seen only minimal MLB action in his professional career.
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
RELATED:
John Harper / New York Daily News:   If AL East race is determined by trade deadline, Yankees have edge over Red Sox
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Yankees react to new Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez: 'It'll be a battle all year long'
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Michael Conforto feeling confident in rehab, but Mets taking cautious approach  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — When Michael Conforto contemplated surgery on his left shoulder last fall, he played the percentages.  The thing that convinced him was when team doctor David Altchek told him that the operation …
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   With Jason Vargas crowding rotation, Mets plan to start Zack Wheeler out of the bullpen: source
New York Daily News:   Daily News Sports Talk Podcast: Yankees and Mets with John Harper
Stephen Ruiz / Orlando Sentinel:
Players with ties to World Series teams seek fresh starts with Braves  —  Charlie Culberson did not receive a call-up to the Los Angeles Dodgers until early September last season.  —  No one could have predicted what was to come, especially the .500 postseason batting average in 16 at-bats …
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Astros' McCullers is back on mound with new rules in play
ESPN:
Josh Donaldson expects to become free agent, not ‘eye to eye’ with Blue Jays on contact talks  —  Josh Donaldson expects to become a free agent next offseason after shutting down contract talks with the Toronto Blue Jays, saying that the sides do not see “eye to eye” on a long-term deal.
Discussion: Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:   Atkins optimistic Donaldson will sign with Blue Jays
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds notes: Nick Senzel is the backup plan shortstop — with a caveat  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — It sounds like Nick Senzel is the long-term backup plan at shortstop for the Reds - with a large caveat.  —  Senzel, the No. 1 prospect with the big league ready bat, has to show he can play short on the big league level.
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:   Bronson Arroyo in Cincinnati Reds Spring Training camp - sort of
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals will join Marlins wearing hats to honor Florida high school shooting victims  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals will join the Miami Marlins and possibly every other team in the majors by wearing hats to honor the victims of last week's mass shooting at a Florida high school.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
MLB teams to wear caps honoring Florida shooting victims for spring openers: report
Eddie MatzESPN Senior / ESPN:
Daniel Murphy trying to get knee 100 percent healthy before return  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Daniel Murphy isn't sure whether he'll be ready for Opening Day as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery.  —  “I'm generally optimistic that when they put me in the lineup …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Acquire Brandon Drury, D-Backs Acquire Steven Souza In Three-Team Trade With Rays  —  The Rays, Yankees and D-backs have agreed to a significant three-team trade that will send outfielder Steven Souza from Tampa Bay to Arizona, infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury from Arizona to New York and prospects to Tampa Bay.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez leads Cardinals against themselves, as condensed schedule nears games  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The schedule is misleading, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny will remind people Tuesday.  The abbreviation for the drill is “Live BP” and it stands for “Live Batting Practice.”
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   What's happend before means little as Cards focus on 2018 season
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Tom Ricketts sets World Series-or-bust tone for Cubs, and everybody's in  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Tradition calls for Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts to welcome the team back every spring with a talk that establishes expectations for the upcoming season.
Associated Press:
Twins finalize deal with reclamation righty Anibal Sanchez  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Minnesota Twins have finalized their low-risk contract with right-hander Anibal Sanchez, securing another experienced candidate for their rotation.  —  Sanchez signed the one-year, non-guaranteed deal …
 
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 More News: 
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Justus Sheffield, Chance Adams lead promising class of young Yankee arms
Ben Badler / Baseball America:
Julio Pablo Martinez Cleared To Sign
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Herbie Teope / New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Saints re-sign long snapper Zach Wood to one-year contract: source
Discussion: FanRag Sports and ProFootballTalk
 Earlier Picks: 
Associated Press:
Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda hospitalized in Bay Area
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs to host Advocate Children's Hospital patients at spring training
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Who is new Rays 1B/DH C.J. Cron? 10 things to know
Discussion: DRaysBay
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Daily Star:
Scene where Gogglebox's George Gilbey, 40, tragically died as police cordon area

Eileen Reslen / Page Six:
Christine Quinn alleges ‘abusive’ husband Christian Richard threw dog poop at her, peed on her floor in violent outburst

New York Times:
How to Be Real With Your Kids  —  Actor Penn Badgley reads the essay “Watching Them Watching Me” …

 
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