Elder Felix Hernandez ready to return to throne as Mariners ace: 'I'm still King Felix'  —  SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs.  Recent history suggests otherwise.  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - Felix Hernandez …

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.

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 …

Callaway scratches Smith for Mets' opener  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mickey Callaway had his first big managerial decision Friday, and it came down way before the New York Mets' first pitch was delivered by starting pitcher Zack Wheeler.  —  A day before when the Mets announced …

Francisco Liriano agrees to 1-year, $4 million deal with Tigers  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Detroit agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with left-hander Francisco Liriano, giving the Tigers added pitching depth.  —  The 34-year-old was 6-7 with a 4.62 ERA in 18 starts last season with Toronto …

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 …

Notes: Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain get to stop talking about being Brewers and go play  —  PHOENIX - Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich weren't on the same field Friday but made their debuts as the Milwaukee Brewers played split-squad games to open Cactus League play.

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 …

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.

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 …