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4:20 AM ET, February 25, 2018

Ballbug

 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.
RELATED:
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  —  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 …
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
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.
RELATED:
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
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.”
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:   Rays Journal: Duffy not just playing but playing well, Faria struggles, more
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:   That guy standing by Cash in the dugout? All part of Rays' plan
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Pitcher Hector Santiago glad to be ‘back home’ with White Sox  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Until he took the mound for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, it hadn't really hit home for Hector Santiago that he was back with the White Sox.  —  “You put your uniform on in spring training …
RELATED:
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Mariners morning notes: Mitch Haniger's hand is hurting, Daniel Vogelbach in a walking boot
Discussion: U.S.S. Mariner and Lookout Landing
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Hector Santiago gets start for White Sox against Mariners
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.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   As a sign of the times, Cardinals shifting signals, breaking habits
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Valera to perform double duty for Cardinals
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 …
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Reds sign reliever Oliver Perez to minor league contract
Kyle Downing / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds Sign Oliver Perez To Minor-League Deal
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.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Spring recap: Cubs 6, Rangers 1
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
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
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 …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Dominic Smith returns to lineup, ready to move on after benching  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Dominic Smith guessed that he kept waking up every 25 minutes as he tried to sleep Friday night.  After being late for a team meeting Friday and being benched, Smith did not want to make the same mistake Saturday.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Dominic Smith shows up early and gets first spring action for Mets
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 …
RELATED:
Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
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.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Clint Frazier, Estevan Florial — both are different points in development — show why Yankees have such high hopes for them  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Clint Frazier's “legendary bat speed” and Estevan Florial's five-tool potential are attributes that people within the Yankees' organization often say are “easy to dream on.”
 
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 More News: 
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Twins will give Erick Aybar a look; Miguel Sano is watching closely
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
WATCH: Dansby Swanson in the majors, so far
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
With no deal from Orioles, utility man Ryan Flaherty starting over with Phillies
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' infield combinations on Joe Maddon's mind as Ben Zobrist heals
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs take flier on former first-round pitcher Danny Hultzen
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Rockies 11, Reds 4  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Colorado Rockies pounded …
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Brandon Drury plunked in the hand in his spring debut with Yankees
 Earlier Picks: 
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Watch: 9 things to know about Braves' loss to Astros
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Zack Wheeler could fit the Chad Green mold in Mets bullpen
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets legend Mike Piazza visits camp, doesn't rule out owning MLB team in future
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds new executive Buddy Bell: An old-school numbers guy
Bob Raissman / New York Daily News:
In afternoon drive war, Aaron Boone's non-exclusive WFAN deal gives ESPN radio an opening
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Kate Middleton Seen in New Video Enjoying Windsor Farm Shop with William

Richard Simmons:
I have some news to tell you.  Please don't be sad.  I am ....dying.  Oh I can see your faces now. …

Snejana Farberov / New York Post:
King Charles is not dead, despite Russian media ‘announcement’ forcing palace to scramble

 
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