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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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees hyped on his debut: ‘There was definitely a buzz’
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Giancarlo Stanton after one spring training game with Yankees: ‘This is better’ than playing with Marlins
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Gleyber Torres thrilled to be back on the field, in Yankees 2B competition
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.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
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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 …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Van Slyke shows off shortened swing with long homers against Cardinals
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ozuna to DH against former team in Cardinals' spring opener
Discussion:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Jason Bristol / KHOU-TV:
Astros honor Stoneman Douglas HS at Spring Training — Caps donning the high school's logo were worn by players across Major League Baseball on the first day of exhibition games. — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Members of Stoneman Douglas High School's baseball team visited the Houston Astros in Spring Training Friday.
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Rockies prospect, Parkland native gets to wear alma mater's ‘SD’ cap in spring training tilt
Associated Press:
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 …
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mickey Callaway ‘shocked’ Dominic Smith was late to first Mets spring training game
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets' Zack Wheeler sets good example for tardy first baseman Dominic Smith on how to fight for your job
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Dominic Smith scratched from Mets lineup before first spring training game
Discussion:
Talking Chop
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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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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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 …
Discussion:
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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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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.
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.
Associated Press:
Hometown reliever Chris Martin takes winding road to Rangers — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers reliever Chris Martin won't need help finding his home ballpark. It is home. — The right-hander went to Arlington High School, not far from Globe Life Park.
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
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 …
Associated Press:
Two minor leaguers suspended 50 games for drug violations — NEW YORK — Baltimore third baseman Jaime Estrada and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Andrew Vinson have been suspended without pay for the first 50 games of the season under baseball's minor league drug program.
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 …
