Top News:
Jorge L. Ortiz / Chillicothe Gazette:
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 …
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Giancarlo Stanton after one spring training game with Yankees: ‘This is better’ than playing with Marlins — TAMPA — Giancarlo Stanton didn't drill the scoreboard like Aaron Judge did in the Yankees' spring training opener last season. — But the newest Bomber was glad to debut with his new team after so many losing years in Miami.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Gleyber Torres thrilled to be back on the field, in Yankees 2B competition
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees hyped on his debut: ‘There was definitely a buzz’
ESPN:
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 …
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MLB Baseball News …
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Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Rockies prospect, Parkland native gets to wear alma mater's ‘SD’ cap in spring training tilt — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Players throughout Major League Baseball wore caps with an “SD” logo Friday to honor the 17 victims of the recent mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Chill factor greets Cubs in Cactus League opener — Chicago Tribune — Winter parkas and spring training typically don't go hand-in-hand, but the most comfortable fans at Friday's Cactus League opener between the Cubs and Brewers were the ones who packed wisely.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mickey Callaway ‘shocked’ Dominic Smith was late to first Mets spring training game — PORT ST. LUCIE — The gates had not even opened. The field was not even ready for batting practice on his first “game day,” as a big league manager and Mickey Callaway had to make an important move.
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Associated Press:
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 …
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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Fish Stripes
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
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.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: White Sox's Welington Castillo returns to Chicago with newfound respect — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox signed only one notable free-agent hitter this offseason, despite an offense that ranked near the bottom of the American League in most categories.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs infielder Javier Baez sets sights on winning Gold Glove — Chicago Tribune — Javier Baez has kept a low profile during the first week of full-squad workouts. — But the dazzling Cubs infielder made no secret of sharing one of his major goals this season.
Associated Press:
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 …
Associated Press:
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.
Associated Press:
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 …
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.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Peter Bourjos eager to fulfill long shot dream with Cubs — Chicago Tribune — Peter Bourjos' interest in the Cubs ran deeper than his Chicago roots. — As a member of the Cardinals during the 2014-15 seasons, Bourjos vividly remembers how a young, inexperienced cast of players matured …