Top News:
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Shohei Ohtani has mixed results in first pitching start with Angels — Shohei Ohtani didn't quite dazzle in his spring pitching debut with the Los Angeles Angels. — Maybe things will change when he swings the bat for the first time in a Cactus League game.
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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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani has mixed spring training debut as a pitcher
Angels' Shohei Ohtani has mixed spring training debut as a pitcher
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and MLB Baseball News …
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
‘Lost season’ brings Trayce Thompson to an uncertain future with Dodgers — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Trayce Thompson's future is uncertain. But at least it's not his recent past. — “He's probably one of the happiest to turn the page on 2017,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says of Thompson's difficult year.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Associated Press:
Ex-Rays prospect Andrew Toles working his way back from knee surgery for Dodgers — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Andrew Toles made a two-base error and went 0-for-3, and his team lost. All told, it was still a pretty good day for the Dodgers left fielder. — In his first game since a serious knee injury …
Associated Press:
Former MLB pitcher Jack Hamilton dies at 79 — BRANSON, Mo. — Jack Hamilton, whose errant inside pitch damaged the eyesight of Boston's Tony Conigliaro in 1967 and caused a premature end to the career of the Red Sox star, has died. He was 79. — Hamilton died Thursday at the Shepherd …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers will get most from Francisco Liriano via bullpen, trade — Watch as the Detroit Tigers' pitchers and catchers warm up with a game of catch on the first day of spring training on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, in Lakeland, Fla. Video by Anthony Fenech/DFP — LAKELAND, Fla. — Francisco Liriano has experience starting.
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Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — LAKELAND, Fla. — Joker Marchant Stadium was packed with fans Saturday afternoon when the Detroit Tigers hosted the Toronto Blue Jays. — This isn't surprising. It was Lakeland's opening day. — The retirees and vacationing families that flood central Florida …
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays reliever Mayza hoping 2018 lives up to '17
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Mickey Callaway hops in stands to show a whole new Mets world — PORT ST. LUCIE — About 20 minutes before Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Cardinals, there was Mets manager Mickey Callaway wading into a sea of fans on the right field berm beyond the fence at First Data Field. — That is something you don't often see.
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Ted Berg / USA Today:
Astros offseason report: Club loaded, eyeing a repeat — SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs. Recent history suggests otherwise. USA TODAY Sports — CONNECT — After winning the first World Series championship in franchise history …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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.”
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Spring training Rangers things: Jurickson Profar's good first impression; Connor Sadzeck, not so much — Welcome to Spring Training Ranger Things or ST Ranger Things, for short, because it looks like Stranger Things and all the kids tell me that's hot, so now I'm hip.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Spring recap: Cubs 6, Rangers 1
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Young outfielders unleash big bats — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. • Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly had seen some of these acts before — speedy, young outfielders flying to the ball, power-hitting young outfielders with the ball flying off their bats.
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Associated Press:
Notebook: Former Cardinal Siegrist signs with Pirates — Former Cardinal Siegrist signs deal with Pirates — Lefthander 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 …
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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
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Despite holdup Sox still expect to finalize Martinez deal — and free agent slugger J.D. Martinez had agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal, but the deal has yet to be officially announced. It turns out there may be a reason for that. — Though sources stressed to FanRag Sports …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, NESN.com and MLB Trade Rumors
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Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
Source: Martinez's immediate readiness to play not in question; medical experts involved
Source: Martinez's immediate readiness to play not in question; medical experts involved
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Phillies 3B Will Middlebrooks leaves game after collision — Veteran infielder Will Middlebrooks, who signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies last month, left Saturday's spring training game with what appeared to be an injury to his left ankle or leg.
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
With no deal from Orioles, utility man Ryan Flaherty starting over with Phillies — Ryan Flaherty expected to be back with the Orioles this season, and so did most in the organization who kept in close contact throughout the offseason with the team's utility infielder for the past six seasons.
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Bluebird Banter and MLB Trade Rumors