Top News:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
What if the Rays actually have a good plan? — PORT CHARLOTTE — Going against popular opinion, here's an odd thought to ponder: — What if the Rays actually know what they're doing? — The deal agreed to Wednesday afternoon with veteran outfielder Carlos Gomez …
Discussion:
DRaysBay, BBTF's Baseball Primer … and MLB Trade Rumors
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks: Spring Training 2018
Arizona Diamondbacks: Spring Training 2018
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and FanGraphs Baseball
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays trade team MVP Steven Souza Jr. in three-team deal that nets prospects
Rays trade team MVP Steven Souza Jr. in three-team deal that nets prospects
Discussion:
Arizona Republic, Sports Illustrated, DRaysBay, DodgerBlue.com, MLB Trade Rumors and ESPN
Rotoworld.com:
ST Daily: Rays Go Gomez — Follow @djshort and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter. — It has been a dizzying few days for the Rays. Well, for their fans, mostly. The flurry of moves began on Saturday night when the Rays acquired C.J. Cron from the Angels before designating 2017 All-Star Corey Dickerson …
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Rasmus joins Orioles • Outfielder Colby Rasmus, a former Cardinal, is returning to baseball after walking away last summer. He signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles and has been invited to big-league camp. — Rasmus, 31, was with Tampa Bay in July when the Rays said he was going to “step away from baseball.”
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.
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Yankees believe Brandon Drury has the potential to be a superstar — TAMPA — Brandon Drury's numbers don't jump off the page in a way that would tell you he's The Next Big Thing, yet the Yankees have been trying to pry him away from the Diamondbacks for years, convinced he has star potential.
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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:
Halos Heaven, NBCSports.com, FanRag Sports and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Way-too-early Detroit Tigers' 25-man roster projection — Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, designated hitter Victor Martinez and pitching prospect Alex Faedo work on their crafts in spring training in Lakeland, Fla. Video by Anthony Fenech/DFP Wochit
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Associated Press:
Indians, reliever Carlos Torres agree to minor league deal — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent reliever Carlos Torres, who could fill a bullpen opening. — Torres pitched in 67 games last season for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com:
One of baseball's top 10 prospects was suspended 50 games for a drug violation — Forrest Whitley is the Astros' top pitching prospect and set to work in Double-A this year — One of baseball's top pitching prospects has received a 50-game suspension. Forrest Whitley of the Astros' system …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's will open 2019 season in Tokyo against Seattle — MESA, Ariz. — For the third time in 12 years, the A's will play their season open in Japan in 2019, The Chronicle has learned. — The Japan opener has yet to be officially announced, but according to league and team sources Oakland …
Discussion:
sports.MyNorthwest.com, Sporting News and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Report: A's, Mariners to open 2019 MLB season in Japan
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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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Baseball notebook: Former Card Cepeda in critical condition — Orlando Cepeda, who won the Most Valuable Player award in the National League in 1967, when he helped the Cardinals win the World Series, was hospitalized in San Francisco because
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ESPN:
Rooting for laundry isn't a joke — it's why baseball works — It's New Clothes Week. Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria and Giancarlo Stanton, all traded this winter, showed up to spring training for their new clothes. J.D. Martinez and Eric Hosmer and Yu Darvish, just days …
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.
Tampa Bay Times:
Grapefruit League 2018 day-by-day schedule — Here is the 2018 day-by-day Grapefruit League schedule. Check out the Tampa Bay Times' 2018 Spring Training Guide for stadium locations, contact information, team-by-team schedules, ticket informatio
Jacob Shafer / Bleacher Report:
Projecting All 30 MLB Teams' Next Big Thing — Spring training is upon us. Narratives abound, from injury comebacks to position battles to best-shape-of-his-life yarns. — At the same time, each club will be focused on identifying and developing its next big thing …
Discussion:
Pirates Breakdown
Jeff Fletcher / Daily News:
Angels Notes: Well-traveled Colin Walsh hopes to grab big league bench spot — TEMPE, Ariz. — Colin Walsh is becoming an expert at adapting. — A non-roster invite with the Angels, Walsh is with the seventh team of his career, including five in just the last two-plus seasons.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards' Voit slims down, hopes for work in left field — JUPITER, Fla. • Burly Cardinals first baseman Luke Voit is much more streamlined this spring, having lost some 15 pounds from 260, which he weighed in his first big-league season as he hit .246 with four homers and nine doubles in 114 at-bats.