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4:55 PM ET, February 23, 2018

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 Top News: 
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ozuna to DH against former team in Cardinals' spring opener  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Former Miami Marlins star Marcell Ozuna is playing, sort of, against his former teammates as the Cardinals open their exhibition baseball season Friday here against the Marlins.
Discussion: Fish Stripes
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Two Van Slyke homers give Marlins 6-4 win over Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Outfielder Oscar Mercado, in his first game wearing a Cardinals uniform, singled twice, scored a run and made a strong catch in right field Friday although the Cardinals lost their exhibition baseball opener to the Miami Marlins 6-4.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
Yahoo Sports:
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 …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Brent Honeywell injury could be worst Rays news yet  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — It might have seemed that things couldn't get worse for the Rays after an opening week of spring training that included the dumping of two veterans to harshly negative reviews, including from their own players …
RELATED:
Rotoworld.com:   ST Daily: Dickerson Gets Dealt
USA Today:   Rays' Brent Honeywell has torn UCL, Tommy John surgery recommended
Tampa Bay Times:   Rays Honeywell has torn UCL, headed for Tommy John surgery
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs say keeping core of young position players intact ‘a big part of our identity’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  After raising the likelihood in October of a trade to acquire impact pitching, President Theo Epstein managed to keep a core of prized young players together that Cubs fans may treasure …
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Kyle Schwarber starts as Cubs open exhibition season
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Anthony Rizzo on Cubs wearing Stoneman Douglas caps: ‘Amazing the power (people) have’
Detroit Free Press:
At George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Fla.  —  What happened: The Tigers lost to the Yankees, 3-1. ...  There were no injuries. ....  Miguel Cabrera made his spring training debut, going 1-for-2 with a single. ...  Chad Huffman drove in the Tigers' only run with an RBI single in the top of the first inning. ...
RELATED:
Matt Breen / Philly.com:   Phillies' first Grapefruit game lineup and three things to know
Detroit Free Press:   Photos: Tigers vs. Yankees in exhibition
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Rays, Marlins disorder is unfair to fans and other small-market teams that are trying to win  —  TAMPA — The three-team trade that brought infielder Brandon Drury to the Yankees and sent Tampa Bay Rays favorite Steven Souza Jr. to Arizona has served to further emphasize the tale of two teams …
Discussion: Minor League Ball
RELATED:
Jacob Shafer / Bleacher Report:
Marlins' and Rays' Embarrassing Selloffs Show MLB Can't Survive in Florida
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Detroit News:
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.
Discussion: Sporting News
RELATED:
R.J. Anderson / CBSSports.com:
Jen Pawol, one of two women umpires in professional baseball, calls first MLB action
Discussion: Detroit News
Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press:   How umpire at Detroit Tigers game is ready to break gender barrier
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Lighter, stronger Morales craves bounce-back year with Blue Jays  —  DUNEDIN — Some Blue Jays are fan favorites: Kevin Pillar, Marcus Stroman, Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki ... it's a pretty big list.  —  Kendrys Morales is not on that list.  —  Not because he isn't a good guy, or anything like that.
Discussion: Bluebird Banter
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Dominic Smith scratched from Mets lineup before first spring training game  —  PORT ST LUCIE — Dominic Smith was scratched from the lineup for the Mets' first spring training game Friday, and the first baseman says he wasn't given a reason why.  —  Smith added that he is not injured.
Discussion: Talking Chop
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
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.
Toronto Sun:
MLB pulls plug on runner-on-second rule for spring games  —  TAMPA, Fla. — A proposal collapsed that would have put a runner on second base to start the 10th inning of spring training games, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals eager to see Martinez take ‘Bull’ by the horns  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The message was taped to Carlos Martinez's locker in the Cardinals' clubhouse and it didn't contain a single word.  —  The piece of paper stuck there had two pictures, juxtaposed.
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
MLB to Mandate That Baseballs Are Stored in Air Conditioned Room for 2018  — In a potential effort to combat the surge in home runs, MLB is mandating that each team store balls in an air conditioned and enclosed room for 2018.  —  PHOENIX — For the first time, Major League Baseball …
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox injury news: Micker Adolfo out at least 6 weeks, Carlos Rodon won't pitch in any spring training games  —  Chicago Tribune  —  On the day the White Sox took the field for their first Cactus League game, they made news off of it.  —  General manager Rick Hahn announced Friday …
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Once-touted reliever J.T. Chargois claimed off waivers by Dodgers  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — It wasn't that long ago that J.T. Chargois was considered one of the top relief pitching prospects Twins' system, even representing the organization at the All-Star Futures Game in San Diego in July 2016.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors and True Blue LA
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers put 5 games on KTLA; no DirecTV deal expected this season  —  For the fifth consecutive year, the Dodgers will be off the air in a majority of Southern California homes.  —  The team and its television partner announced Friday that five games will be shown on KTLA (Channel 5).
 
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 More News: 
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves' hitting leaders return who could carry team in 2018
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Hope still shines for Corey Ray after disappointing year in Brewers system
Rich Hammond / Orange County Register:
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George A. King III / New York Post:
Why Aaron Boone's meaningless debut matters
Discussion: River Avenue Blues
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia among regulars in lineup for White Sox Cactus League opener
Tampa Bay Times:
Live blog: Rays open spring training season against Pirates, Orioles
Dan Mann / Chicago Tribune:
What does a top-5 payroll buy you in baseball?
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Rhys Hoskins and the Phillies seek value at the margins
 Earlier Picks: 
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ranking the spring training ballparks in Arizona
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs believe Justin Wilson stepping toward a rebound season
ESPN:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani to make spring debut as pitcher Saturday
Discussion: Halos Heaven
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Possibilities aplenty for Cardinals' infielder Wisdom
Luke Broadwater / Baltimore Sun:
A group is trying to get the grounded Baltimore police surveillance airplane flying again.
Discussion: CBS Baltimore
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Cleveland Indians OF Brandon Guyer will restart progression after aggravating wrist injury
 

 
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