Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
7:20 AM ET, February 20, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Associated Press:
Red Sox reach agreement with J.D. Martinez, per source  —  J.D. Martinez and the Boston Red Sox have, at long last, come to an agreement.  —  The slow dance between the free agent slugger and the power-deficient team wrapped up Monday when they settled on a $110 million, five-year contract.
Discussion: Detroit News
RELATED:
Eric KarabellESPN Senior / ESPN:
DH or not, J.D. Martinez can be a fantasy star in Boston  —  Every American League team hit more home runs than the Boston Red Sox last season, so adding a power bat was clearly an offseason priority.  Long linked to free-agent outfielder J.D. Martinez, the Red Sox came to an agreement …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Limiting mound trips without a pitching change OK with Cubs' Chris Gimenez  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Catcher Chris Gimenez was encouraged that Major League Baseball will allow a maximum of six mound visits per nine-inning game without a pitching change.  —  Limiting mound visits is one of MLB's rule changes designed to speed up games.
Joel Sherman / New York Post:   Red Sox just flexed right back at Yankees, and it's on again
ESPN:
Red Sox agree to deal with slugger J.D. Martinez
USA Today:
Baseball Hall of Famer, Giants legend, Orlando Cepeda rushed to hospital: report  —  Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda was rushed to a Bay Area hospital late Monday, a San Francisco Giants official confirmed to The Chronicle.  —  His condition was not known, the spokeswoman said of the 80-year old.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, 80, hospitalized in Bay Area  —  Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda was rushed to a Bay Area hospital on Monday night, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.  —  A San Francisco Giants spokeswoman who confirmed Cepeda's hospitalization to the Chronicle …
Discussion: Associated Press
Ari Gilberg / New York Daily News:
Orlando Cepeda, 80-year-old Hall of Fame first baseman, rushed to hospital in Bay Area: report
Discussion: FanRag Sports
Eddie MatzESPN Senior / ESPN:
Bryce Harper says his focus is on 2018  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Bryce Harper isn't talking about the future.  —  On Monday afternoon, Harper addressed reporters for the first time this spring training and refused to discuss anything beyond the upcoming season.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Nats star Harper focused on 2018 season, not future beyond  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper is focusing on his immediate future.  But don't bother asking him about plans beyond this year.  —  “If you guys do talk anything about that, I'll be walking right out the door,” he said Monday.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:   Speculation on Bryce Harper's future begins now — with or without his help
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
What's happend before means little as Cards focus on 2018 season  —  St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Tommy Pham in a fielding drill during St. Louis Cardinals spring training on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Limited visits to the mound will expand Cardinals' use of signals, tempo changes
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals notebook: Motte, and his beard, are welcomed back
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Prospect Alec Hansen a pitcher to watch on White Sox radar  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Alec Hansen has been an early standout at White Sox spring training and not just because the right-hander is 6-foot-8.  —  Hansen has been impressive during bullpen sessions, hitting his spots while flashing a fastball that tops out at 99 mph.
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Avisail Garcia hoping to improve on All-Star season for White Sox
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Patience paying off for White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf
Arizona Republic:
Next Slide  —  Major League Baseball announced new rules Monday aimed at increasing the pace of play, changes that weren't universally endorsed in the Diamondbacks' clubhouse.  —  Teams will now have just six visits to the mound per game that don't involve the removal of a pitcher - a tally that includes both coaches and players.
RELATED:
ESPN:   Diamondbacks, OF Jarrod Dyson agree on a two-year deal
Associated Press:
Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes tries to improve flexibility with yoga  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Yo is into yoga.  —  Trying to stay off the disabled list after a season hobbled by leg injuries, New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespdes took to yoga during the season.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Wilmer Flores prepared to learn corner outfield to find more ways into Mets lineup
Discussion: Newsday
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Yoenis Cespedes made these three changes to his workout routine — and the Mets slugger still wants to be MVP
Associated Press:
Dodgers glad to be back at work, away from World Series talk  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Justin Turner heard about it for weeks.  He couldn't get away from talk about the Los Angeles Dodgers' seven-game loss to the Houston Astros in the 2017 World Series.  —  Waiters asked Turner about it when he tried to order a meal.
Discussion: ESPN
RELATED:
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:   Dodgers: 2017 season to remember
Associated Press:
Must-see BP: Yanks' Stanton, Judge hit together for 1st time  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton homered off the scoreboard in left-center and hit three opposite-field homers to right.  Aaron Judge drove a pitch over the left-field walkway and also went deep to right.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez reports good health for likely final season  —  The Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers reported for the first day on the Spring Training season at Publix Field at Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland FL.  Wednesday February 14, 2018.  Kirthmon F. Dozier Detroit Free Press Wochit
RELATED:
Detroit Free Press:   Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: 'I'm just here to play baseball'
Associated Press:
Hosmer's deal leaves Padres with overstuffed outfield  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Now that San Diego's first base position is in Eric Hosmer's $144 million hands, it seems as if there are 144 million candidates for the one remaining starting spot in the Padres' outfield.
New York Daily News:
MLB limits mound visits, decides against pitch clock for 2018  —  Major League Baseball imposed stricter limits on mound visits by players in an effort to speed up games but decided against 20-second pitch clocks for 2018.  —  After more than a year of negotiations, the Major League Baseball …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
AP source: Tillman, Orioles agree to $3M, 1-year deal  —  SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says pitcher Chris Tillman and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract.  —  The deal includes performance bonuses, the person told …
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks at spring-training practice … Perhaps no team in baseball has to fill as many holes as the Royals, as several departures leave key question marks for the team's playoff hopes in 2018.  —  The Royals will be without infielders Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, outfielder Lorenzo Cain and right-handed pitcher Jason Vargas.
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 7:20 AM ET, February 20, 2018.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Thomas Lott / Sporting News:
MLB spring training 2018: Three things on the Astros' to-do list
David Carson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Video: Jason Motte back in Cardinals uniform
Todd Rosiak / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Second base: Villar, Pérez and Sogard all in the mix for starting job with Brewers
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Sandy Alderson, noting he's thinking about retirement, endorses Mets assistant GM John Ricco
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs manager Joe Maddon admits to sign-stealing during coaching days
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Chipper arrives at camp, talks up Braves rebuild
 Earlier Picks: 
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Miguel Andujar wants to start at third base for Yankees, but he must improve his defense first
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
Now 20 pounds lighter, Jorge Soler will fight for an outfield job with Royals
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds: Robert Stephenson and Sal Romano, friends off the field, competitors on it
ESPN:
Veteran reliever Peter Moylan agrees to deal to return to Braves
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
50 Cent Is ‘Going for Sole Custody’ of His Son With Daphne Joy After She Was Named in Diddy Lawsuit (Exclusive)

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

People:
Rebel Wilson Recalls Romantic First Date with Fiancée Ramona: ‘I Think You Need to Come Back to My House’ (Exclusive)

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page