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8:55 PM ET, February 21, 2018

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 Top News: 
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays trade team MVP Steven Souza Jr. in three-team deal that nets prospects  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — Evan Longoria traded in December.  Jake Odorizzi and Corey Dickerson dumped over the weekend.  Then, in a stunning move Tuesday night, 2017 team MVP Steven Souza Jr. shipped to Arizona as part …
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks: Spring Training 2018 … For all intents and purposes, Steven Souza Jr. will be taking the place of J.D. Martinez in right field, but, unsurprisingly, the Diamondbacks' new slugger isn't really looking at it that way.  —  “Sure, if I can hit 29 homers in a half, that would be great,” Souza said.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … For anyone following the Diamondbacks' farm system in recent years, Tuesday's three-team deal came with some sticker shock.  Brandon Drury has been touted for years as an impact bat, Anthony Banda as a future rotation piece.  Both were shipped out.
ESPN:
Report: Rays agree to 1-year, $4 million deal with OF Carlos Gomez  —  The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with outfielder Carlos Gomez, MLB.com reported Wednesday.  —  Gomez, who turned 32 in December, appeared in 105 games for Texas last season …
USA Today:
Retreating Rays, Carlos Gomez agree to one-year, $4 million deal
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs hitters say they're ready now for Dodgers' high-pitch strategy  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed bewilderment when he learned reliever Brandon Morrow discussed how the Cubs were dissected in the 2017 National League Championship Series.  —  “He's already giving away our secrets?”
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USA Today:
Cubs offseason report: Rotation formidable with addition of Yu Darvish
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:   Dodgers offseason report: Quiet winter, yet still powerful club
KHOU-TV:
Astros' top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley suspended 50 games  —  Whitley was poised to reach the majors at some point this season, so this puts a bit of a damper on his prospects for 2018.  —  Author: CBS Sports  —  The Astros top pitching prospect, Forrest Whitley …
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Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com:
One of baseball's top 10 prospects was suspended 50 games for a drug violation
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
KHOU-TV:   Astros' top pitching prospect suspended 50 games
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox eager to use Dave Duncan as ‘another set of eyes’ for pitchers  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The White Sox have begun to tap into the font of knowledge possessed by Dave Duncan, whom general manager Rick Hahn called “one of the finest pitching instructors of our generation.”
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Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:   ‘Lucky to be alive,’ Tyler Danish thrilled to start for White Sox in Cactus League opener
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: White Sox look ahead of schedule, but Rick Hahn still wisely sees need for patience
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Daily Record:
Yankees send Jabari Blash to the Angels  —  A day after bolstering the infield with the acquisition of Brandon Drury, the Yankees made another trade on Wednesday.  —  The team announced that it sent outfielder Jabari Blash to the Angels for cash considerations and a player to be named later.
Discussion: FanRag Sports
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Yankees trade OF Jabari Blash to Angels for player or cash
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Report: A's, Mariners to open 2019 MLB season in Japan  —  SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs.  Recent history suggests otherwise.  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  For the first time since 2012, the first pitch of next year's Major League Baseball schedule will be thrown in Japan.
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Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's will open 2019 season in Tokyo against Seattle
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Brian Cashman refers to Yankees as ‘Little Engine that Could’ in comparison to Red Sox  —  New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman thinks his team can compete for another division title this season, but until that potentially happens, he only sees them one way.
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Brian Cashman says Red Sox are still the AL East favorites: 'We're not on equal footing'
Associated Press:
Brewers owner Attanasio has eye on ending playoff drought  —  PHOENIX — Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio says his team has the roster to end the franchise's seven-year postseason drought without having to make another move.  —  The Brewers exceeded expectations last year after finishing …
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Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:   Brewers, hungry to end seven-year playoff drought, seized the offseason and expect to win
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez will get advance peek at Mets  —  JUPITER, Fla. _ Staff ace Carlos Martinez, the presumptive opening day starter for the Cardinals in New York on March 29, will get an advance look at the Mets on Saturday when he starts the second exhibition game of the spring at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   ‘Big Carp’ gets involved in all phases of Cardinals camp
ESPN:
When will Tim Tebow play in the majors?  —  Is Tim Tebow a major leaguer?  According to New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson, the former NFL quarterback is all but bound for the bigs.  —  “Somebody asked me whether I think he'll be a major league player at some point,” Alderson said Sunday.
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Kris Bryant says big changes needed in CBA - and he's ready to fight for them  —  MESA, Ariz. - Kris Bryant is four seasons from a free agent payday, years removed from the action - or inaction - that occurred this winter, when the market was depressed for superstars and role players alike.
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Colby Rasmus returns to baseball, signs with Orioles  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Outfielder Colby Rasmus has decided to return to baseball after walking away last summer, and has signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.  —  Rasmus was in camp Wednesday to finish up his physical.
Associated Press:
Outfielder Maybin signs 1-year contract with Marlins  —  JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Outfielder Cameron Maybin has signed a one-year contract with the Miami Marlins, rejoining the team where he played in 2008-10.  —  Maybin gives the young, rebuilding Marlins much-needed experience …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
7 things we learned about the MLB's new pace-of-play rules — and walk-up music  —  Chicago Tribune  —  You learn something new every day.  —  Here are some things I learned from Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre Tuesday during the MLB media day at the Glendale Civic Center.  —  Deadening dead time
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
How the Royals are using sports science to gain an advantage  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  On most days this spring, Whit Merrifield sets his alarm clock for around 6 a.m. One hour later, he's already on site at Royals camp, preferring a workout in the morning and a protein-laden breakfast inside …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers will start Ryan Carpenter vs. New York Yankees  —  The Detroit Tigers started Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, with individual pictures, followed by practice.  First rounder pitcher Alex Faedo faced major-league hitters for the first time, too.  Video by Kirthmon F. Dozier/DFP Wochit
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Javier Baez can earn more plate appearances with plate discipline  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The chances of Javier Baez getting as many as 600 plate appearances in 2018 will improve if Ben Zobrist needs more rest.  —  But perhaps a bigger factor will be if Baez can become a more polished hitter.
 
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 More News: 
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rangers Agree To Terms With Jesse Chavez
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs manager Joe Maddon spreads responsibility to new coach Brian Butterfield
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Miguel Andujar going about business as usual with Brandon Drury on board
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
7 things you may not know about Rio Ruiz
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Former Braves star Orlando Cepeda in critical condition
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
How David Hernandez rebuilt himself as a pitcher, and as a person
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets giving first spring start to Zack Wheeler, who Mickey Callaway says is ‘definitely a starting pitcher’
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Cody Reed has impressed the boss early in camp
 Earlier Picks: 
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets first baseman Adrian Gonzalez trying to impart major league wisdom to Dominic Smith
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Reds' single-game tickets on sale Saturday
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians To Sign Carlos Torres
John Healy / New York Daily News:
Openly gay Billy Bean says continued dialogue with former Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy led to a friendship
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Anthony Rizzo on MLB teams donning Stoneman Douglas caps: 'It's awesome'
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Sign Michael Saunders
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw have ‘open dialogue’ with his opt-out looming
Discussion: DodgerBlue.com
 

 
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Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, and Vittoria Ceretti, 25, spark engagement rumors as she flaunts new ring

 
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