Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees hyped on his debut: ‘There was definitely a buzz’  —  TAMPA - It was just a meaningless exhibition game, the first of 32 for the New York Yankees in a long spring training, but then again, this one felt different.  —  This day, on a gorgeous Friday afternoon …

MLB teams wear hats to honor high school shooting victims  —  Spring training got off to a solemn start as MLB teams wore hats to honor Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were fatally shot nine days ago.  —  Stoneman Douglas baseball coach Todd Fitz-Gerald …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Phillies pitcher Francisco Rodriguez still has the desire to return to the once-great K-Rod form  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. - The career of Francisco Rodriguez should have ended last July when he was released by Washington.  The Nationals were the second team to dump him in three week.

Alex Cora ‘not concerned’ Red Sox deal with J.D. Martinez not yet done  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have still yet to finalize their contract with prized free agent J.D. Martinez.  —  Manager Alex Cora said after Boston's Grapefruit League exhibition opener against Minnesota …

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 …

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.

Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Christian Walker keeps running into walls at first base … CONNECT  —  Behind every door of Christian Walker's wild walk through the major leagues thus far, there has been a wall.  Considering the position he plays and the four different organizations that …

Oakland found closer in Treinen, part of bullpen revamp  —  MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Oakland found its closer in Blake Treinen last summer, and its bullpen transformation continued when it acquired offseason targets Yusmeiro Petit and Ryan Buchter this winter.  —  For a team that had 25 blown saves …

Back tightness delays Carpenter's spring debut for Cards  —  JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Cardinals manager Mike Matheny isn't sure when first baseman Matt Carpenter will make his Grapefruit League debut.  —  Carpenter is battling back tightness.  For the time being, he is in the hands …

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.

Rasmus makes new start with Orioles after baseball break  —  SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Colby Rasmus is making a new start with the Baltimore Orioles after taking an eight-month break from baseball.  —  Rasmus signed a minor league contract with the Orioles this week, after abruptly leaving the Tampa Bay Rays in midseason.

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.