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 …

Alex Rodriguez returns to role as Yankees' special adviser  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Former New York Yankees star and new ESPN Sunday Night Baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez was named a special adviser to his former team on Sunday.  —  Rodriguez will join past Yankees Hideki Matsui …

Cards' Mikolas has rough debut, gives up six runs in 7-3 loss  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Miles Mikolas, a Jupiter, Fla., native signed for $15.5 million for two years after pitching three seasons in Japan, had a rough Cardinals debut Sunday, giving up six runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to Houston.

Twins reportedly sign slugging first baseman Logan Morrison  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jake Odorizzi has only been a member of the Twins for a week or so, but he's already doing his part to recruit some of his former high-profile Tampa Bay Rays teammates to the Upper Midwest.

Decline fears: Can Joey Votto, Robinson Cano fight off the aging curve?  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Joey Votto was 27 years old, a reigning National League Most Valuable Player and ostensibly at the height of his powers when he first felt the symptoms of decline.  —  In 2010, he dominated the NL …

Eric Hosmer bids classy farewell to Kansas City fans with newspaper ad  —  Although he's now a member of the San Diego Padres after signing an eight-year, $144 million contract as a free agent, Eric Hosmer has already built up a career worth of fond memories with the Kansas City Royals.

Springer's energy propels World Series champion Astros  —  JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — A.J. Hinch was attempting to answer a question about what he likes best about George Springer when the Houston Astros manager was drowned out by a faraway but exuberant bellow.  —  The sound was the World Series MVP …

Matt Belisle agrees to minor league contract with Indians  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Free agent reliever Matt Belisle has agreed to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians and would get a $1.5 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man big league roster.

Rays Journal: A key step back for Venters, sharp day for Snell, big blast by Cron  —  FORT MYERS - The big heartwarming story will be when - and thus if - LHP Jonny Venters makes it back to the majors for the first time since 2012, having battled through three elbow surgeries.

Mets' Dominic Smith to go for MRI while Jay Bruce, Tim Tebow dealing with minor injuries  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets could only go so long without any injuries.  —  First baseman Dominic Smith is slated to undergo an MRI on Monday for a strained right quad, while Jay Bruce …

‘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.

Whomever the Rangers choose as their No. 2 catcher, they will get more reps than expected  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Rangers need a backup catcher.  —  Big yawn.  —  The search will not dominate the spring-training storylines.  The backup catcher is never famous.  —  He will be significant for this team.

Cubs President Theo Epstein to attend memorial service for former Padres executive Kevin Towers  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Cubs President Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and spring training instructor Rick Sutcliffe were among at least 100 major-league officials scheduled to attend a memorial service Sunday for Kevin Towers.

Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … The Diamondbacks might say they haven't settled on their starting shortstop yet, and maybe they haven't - on the record - but when manager Torey Lovullo was recently asked about how his the middle infield might shake out this spring, he sounded very much like a man with a plan.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks comfortable being young veteran  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Kyle Hendricks joked that he's been sporting facial hair for sixth months.  —  But the Cubs' starting pitcher, 28, joked Sunday morning that it feels “kind of weird” being a young veteran as he enters his fifth season.

Bittersweet return for Sanchez  —  DUNEDIN - The box score looked a bit rough, but Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez was satisfied with his first appearance in a game since July 19.  —  Sanchez came in relief of starter J.A. Happ in the second inning of a Grapefruit League game …

Nick Castellanos HRs, Alex Faedo debuts for Detroit Tigers in 8-8 tie  —  At Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, Fla.  —  What happened  —  The Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates tied, 8-8, in a split-squad game. ...  Nick Castellanos hit a home run. ...

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.