Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
As a sign of the times, Cardinals shifting signals, breaking habits — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. • As the first inning of his first spring start went sideways this afternoon for Carlos Martinez, the Cardinals starter hit one batter, walked two batters, needed 31 pitches to get three outs …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Valera to perform double duty for Cardinals — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. • Utilityman Breyvic Valera, one of the few players these days who actually can walk more than he strikes out, will get a look at second base Saturday for the Cardinals. But manager Mike Matheny said Valera …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Van Slyke shows off shortened swing with long homers against Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • When Scott Van Slyke stepped into the cage in St. Louis this winter, the swing his father had suggested, the swing he needed to retool, the swing he needed to return to the majors found him without a search.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Three young Cardinals stand out against Marlins — JUPITER, Fla. • The loudest statement, by far, was St. Louisan Scott Van Slyle's two-homer, five RBI performance for the Miami Marlins, who beat the Cardinals 6-4 in the baseball exhibition opener Friday.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Two Van Slyke homers give Marlins 6-4 win over Cardinals
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Fish Stripes
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
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Sporting News
Associated Press:
Reds sign reliever Oliver Perez to minor league contract — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cincinnati Reds have signed left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez to a minor league contract. — Perez spent the past two seasons with the Washington Nationals. He made 50 appearances with the Nationals last year, pitching 33 innings with a 4.64 ERA.
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Kyle Downing / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Sign Oliver Perez To Minor-League Deal — 11:17am: Sheldon tweets that Perez will earn $1.25MM if he makes the MLB roster, and has $500K available performance bonuses. He'll be able to opt out of the contract at the end of camp if he isn't added to the roster by then.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Bob Raissman / New York Daily News:
In afternoon drive war, Aaron Boone's non-exclusive WFAN deal gives ESPN radio an opening — When it comes to this battle for local sportstalk supremacy, everyone is a potential soldier. — Even Aaron Boone. — When WFAN's new afternoon crew revealed the Yankees rookie manager …
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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
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Giancarlo Stanton makes spring training debut for Yankees
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Associated Press:
Kevin Siegrist agrees to minor league deal with Pirates — BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Left-hander Kevin Siegrist agreed to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will report to big league spring training. — The 28-year-old was 1-1 with one save and a 4.81 ERA in 46 games …
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MLB Baseball News …
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ESPN:
Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop scratched with elbow bursitis — Jonathan Schoop, the starting second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, has bursitis in his left elbow and is expected to miss some time, manager Buck Showalter said Friday. — Schoop, who agreed to an $8.5 million deal earlier …
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Associated Press:
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 …
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Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
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Jorge L. Ortiz / Chillicothe Gazette:
Elder Felix Hernandez ready to return to throne as Mariners ace: 'I'm still King Felix'
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USA Today and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Rays prospect Brent Honeywell to have Tommy John surgery — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Brent Honeywell, the top pitching prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays, has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and will have Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the entire season. — EDITOR'S PICKS
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds new executive Buddy Bell: An old-school numbers guy — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — In the great old-school scouting versus new-school analytics, Buddy Bell would seem to fall solidly on the old-school side. — He's the middle generation of a three-generation baseball family. He played.
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Alford anxious to prove his worth in the bigs — DUNEDIN - Anthony Alford is the third-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays system, and 47th on the 2018 Top 100 MLB prospects list. — With that and $5.75, you can buy a pretzel at Dunedin Stadium. — The laid-back outfielder appears …
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Mariners morning notes: Mitch Haniger's hand is hurting, Daniel Vogelbach in a walking boot — Haniger won't take batting practice or play in Cactus League games for next few days. Vogelbach will get more tests on the swollen foot. — PEORIA, Ariz. — Two days into Cactus League play …
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing
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 …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Today's Phillies lineup, three things, and how to watch — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Rhys Hoskins and Carlos Santana will make their spring-training debuts on Saturday as the Phillies host the Orioles at Spectrum Field. — The game, which begins at 1:05 p.m., will be broadcasted by NBC Sports Philadelphia and WIP-FM.
Tom Jones / Tampa Bay Times:
The truth about the Tampa Bay Rays' reset — The Tampa Bay Rays are not going to be very good this year. — We already knew that. — They have gutted a team that won 80 games last season. Among those sent packing: Evan Longoria, Corey Dickerson, Jake Odorizzi and team MVP Steven Souza Jr.
