While the rest of MLB goes young, the Giants are doubling down on players in their 30s  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The San Francisco Giants sold out 530 straight games before their streak ended in July, and they feel obliged to put a competitive product on the field for all those die-hard ticket holders by the bay.

ST Daily: Dickerson Gets Dealt  —  Follow @nate_grimm and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.  —  When Corey Dickerson was designated for assignment by the Rays, there was likely a small bit of relief in getting out of an organization that has all but given up on contending in 2018.

Cardinals in no hurry to label closers  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals' bullpen this year likely will be comprised of seven relievers at the start of the season but could have eight at any moment, if manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Mike Maddux deem the concept worthy.

Kyle Schwarber starts as Cubs open exhibition season  —  Chicago Tribune  —  With little time to practice, the Cubs and the other 29 major league teams aren't required to field lineups with more than four starters for the first week of exhibition games.  —  But manager Joe Maddon …

Next Slide  —  Lakeland, Fla. — Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire did something after the game Thursday that he would very rarely do in the regular season.  He made a point of personally complimenting the home-plate umpire.  —  “Helluva job, very nice,” he said to Jen Pawol, one of two women umpiring in professional baseball.

Exclusive: Federal documents detail sweeping potential NCAA violations involving high-profile players, schools  —  Documents and bank records obtained in discovery during the federal investigation into the underbelly of college basketball detail in meticulous fashion the expenditures …

Mets pitching coach hypes and cautions: This is MLB's best staff  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Dave Eiland has been around the pitching block.  He's a straight shooter who tells it like it is, and that's the way he's been since the first time we crossed paths 26 years ago.

Angels' Shohei Ohtani to make spring debut as pitcher Saturday  —  Multitalented Japanese pitcher/hitter Shohei Ohtani will make his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Angels on the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.  —  “I feel that this is a big step forward,” Ohtani told reporters Thursday, via an interpreter.

J.D. Martinez continuing physical at Red Sox spring training camp  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Considering it took four months for the Boston Red Sox and J.D. Martinez to get together, what's another day before they make things official?  —  Martinez arrived at the Red Sox's spring training facility Wednesday …

What does a top-5 payroll buy you in baseball?  —  Chicago Tribune  —  With the signing of right-hander Yu Darvish, the Cubs moved into elite company: They now have the fifth-highest payroll in baseball, according to Spotrac.  The last time the Cubs had a top-five payroll, in 2016, they won it all.

Ranking the spring training ballparks in Arizona  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Ten stadiums.  Fifteen teams.  Ranking the ballparks (and facilities) in Arizona's Cactus League.  —  The Diamondbacks and Rockies got everything they needed — and then some — in this spacious 11,000-seat facility.

Rhys Hoskins and the Phillies seek value at the margins  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Rhys Hoskins stood in left field and waited.  It was early in the morning, more than an hour before he was required to be at the ballpark.  The stands were empty.  The sound system was muted.