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6:10 PM ET, February 24, 2018

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 Top 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
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Inside the Rays' plan to prove the tanking truthers wrong  —  PORT CHARLOTTE - The Rays know tanking.  —  “We tanked in 2006 and '07, if you want to call it that,” principal owner Stuart Sternberg said.  “We were the original tankers.  Or tankees.  It seems to be all the fad now.”
Tom Jones / Tampa Bay Times:   The truth about the Tampa Bay Rays' reset
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
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Three young Cardinals stand out against Marlins
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani gives up two runs in Angels' debut  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani's spring training pitching debut is one that he'll file under “learning curve.”  —  Ohtani took the mound with plenty of hype and a “B” lineup in the field behind him in Saturday's game between the Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers.
RELATED:
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani has mixed spring training debut as a pitcher  —  SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs.  Recent history suggests otherwise.  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  TEMPE, Ariz. -Shohei Ohtani's much-anticipated spring debut Saturday featured …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies want Nick Pivetta to pitch like Justin Verlander  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Phillies asked each pitcher to try something new this spring.  Throw your change-up to lefthanders or rely on your slider more.  For Nick Pivetta, it was simple: elevate your fastball.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Cubs field veteran lineup vs. Rangers
ESPN:   MLB teams wear hats to honor high school shooting victims
Jason Bristol / KHOU-TV:   Astros honor Stoneman Douglas HS at Spring Training
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 …
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Reds sign reliever Oliver Perez to minor league contract
Associated Press:   Twins sign veteran SS Erick Aybar to minor league contract
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Zack Wheeler could fit the Chad Green mold in Mets bullpen  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Jeurys Familia, 16 pounds lighter than last year, was pounding away on the stationary bike Friday night at the local LA Fitness when he spotted me and waved me over.  —  “You see (Zack) Wheeler today?” he asked.
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Callaway scratches Smith for Mets' opener
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 …
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Brandon Drury plunked in the hand in his spring debut with Yankees  —  BRADENTON, Fla. - Brandon Drury had an eventful spring debut as a Yankee, which included a scare.  —  Drury, the team's third-base acquisition from Arizona, lined a single in his first at-bat, but was hit in the left hand during his second.
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … It's a good thing the folks from Rawlings stopped by Salt River Fields the other day to measure many of the Arizona Diamondbacks position players for new baseball gloves.  —  Chris Owings is going to need three different styles and sizes, thank you very much.
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets legend Mike Piazza visits camp, doesn't rule out owning MLB team in future  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — For now, Mike Piazza has no ambitions to join Derek Jeter in the ranks of former MLB legends owning an MLB team.  The Hall of Famer currently has his hands full as a majority owner of AC Reggiana …
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Watch: 9 things to know about Braves' loss to Astros  —  The Braves lost to the Astros 6-1 Saturday afternoon.  But don't worry, it is very early in spring training.  —  Watch the video above to see 9 things to know from the game.
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
Mark SchlabachESPN Senior / ESPN:
FBI wiretaps show Sean Miller discussed $100K payment to lock recruit  —  FBI wiretaps intercepted telephone conversations between Arizona coach Sean Miller and Christian Dawkins, a key figure in the FBI's investigation into college basketball corruption, in which Miller discussed paying $100,000 …
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 …
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 …
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.
 
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 More News: 
KTAR.com:
Study ranks each Arizona spring training stadium based on fan experience
Travis Sawchik / FanGraphs Baseball:
Where Defensive Opportunities Have Declined Most
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Hector Santiago gets start for White Sox against Mariners
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Today's Phillies lineup, three things, and how to watch
Tampa Bay Times:
For starters: Back to back starts for Duffy as Rays face Red Sox, 1:05
Alex Butler / UPI:
Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber looks lean ahead of spring training
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Do the Cleveland Indians really have the worst outfield in the big leagues? Hey, Hoynsie
Nick Groke / Denver Post:
David Dahl is finally back in with the Rockies — with a lot to prove to manager Bud Black
 Earlier Picks: 
ESPN:
Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop scratched with elbow bursitis
Brett Cyrgalis / New York Post:
Rangers look like they just want this all to end
Associated Press:
Hometown reliever Chris Martin takes winding road to Rangers
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: White Sox's Welington Castillo returns to Chicago with newfound respect
Discussion: South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Two minor leaguers suspended 50 games for drug violations
Associated Press:
Francisco Liriano agrees to 1-year, $4 million deal with Tigers
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies pitcher Francisco Rodriguez still has the desire to return to the once-great K-Rod form
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Former NBA Player Darius Morris Dead At 33

Tamantha Ryan / Page Six:
Usher speaks out after Lovers and Friends festival is canceled hours before showtime: ‘Everything happens for a reason’

Brenton Blanchet / People:
Jar Jar Binks Actor Reflects on Backlash to Phantom Menace: ‘My Career Began and Ended’ with Star Wars (Exclusive)

 
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