Top News:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, DRaysBay and FanRag Sports
RELATED:
Rotoworld.com:
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.
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
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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.
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 …
Discussion:
CBS Denver, And The Valley Shook, Royals Review, ProFootballTalk, Courier-Journal, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Deadspin, Bangor Daily News, FanRag Sports, Testudo Times, Burnt Orange Nation, HotNewHipHop.com, NESN.com, The Big Lead, Dallas Morning News, CBS Detroit, The Clemson Insider and TMZ.com
Detroit Free Press:
Photos: Tigers vs. Yankees in exhibition — Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire (15) wears the cap of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School baseball team, the Stoneman Douglas Eagles, before the exhibition game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, to honor the victims of Feb. 14's attack in Parkland, Fla.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Anthony Rizzo on Cubs wearing Stoneman Douglas caps: ‘Amazing the power (people) have’ — Chicago Tribune — Many Cubs players broke in their Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School baseball caps Friday, and Anthony Rizzo appreciated the show of honor in the wake of the tragic Feb. 14 shooting at his Parkland, Fla. high school.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kyle Schwarber starts as Cubs open exhibition season
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 …
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Jacob Shafer / Bleacher Report:
Marlins' and Rays' Embarrassing Selloffs Show MLB Can't Survive in Florida
Marlins' and Rays' Embarrassing Selloffs Show MLB Can't Survive in Florida
Discussion:
Pirates Breakdown, FanRag Sports, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Daily Dish
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
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:
MLB Baseball News … and Sporting News
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Shawn Windsor / Detroit Free Press:
How umpire at Detroit Tigers game is ready to break gender barrier
R.J. Anderson / CBSSports.com:
Jen Pawol, one of two women umpires in professional baseball, calls first MLB action
Jen Pawol, one of two women umpires in professional baseball, calls first MLB action
Discussion:
Detroit News
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.
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia among regulars in lineup for White Sox Cactus League opener — Chicago Tribune — A lot of familiar names appeared on the lineup card posted in the White Sox clubhouse for their Cactus League opener against the Dodgers on Friday at Camelback Ranch.
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Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Dylan Covey draws starting nod for White Sox in Friday's spring training opener
Dylan Covey draws starting nod for White Sox in Friday's spring training opener
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs believe Justin Wilson stepping toward a rebound season — Chicago Tribune — Justin Wilson spent the offseason preparing for spring training by throwing off the bullpen mound at Jake Arrieta's alma mater at TCU. — This doesn't guarantee that Wilson will undergo …
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Few roster spots in play as Cubs begin Cactus League schedule
Few roster spots in play as Cubs begin Cactus League schedule
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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.
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 …
ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies' first Grapefruit game lineup and three things to know — CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Phillies, riding the momentum of yesterday's shutout win over a college team, open their Grapefruit League schedule today against the Blue Jays at 1:07 p.m. in neighboring Dunedin. — Here's a look at today's lineup:
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
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.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
5 young pitchers to watch early in Mets camp
5 young pitchers to watch early in Mets camp
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue