Top News:
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
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 …
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Pete Caldera / USA Today:
NY Yankees hire Alex Rodriguez as a special advisor, but what he'll do isn't clear — TAMPA, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees are still drawn to each other.Despite a turbulent Yankees career that included two major steroid scandals - and one world championship - A-Rod has been hired by the club as a special advisor.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone says Yankees 'aren't really in play' for free agent pitchers Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn — TAMPA — It doesn't sound like Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn will be wearing pinstripes in 2018. — “At this point I don't see those guys as realistic options,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said when asked about the two free-agent pitchers.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Alex Rodriguez returning to Yankees as special adviser
Alex Rodriguez returning to Yankees as special adviser
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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
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Joe Belock / New York Daily News:
Former Mets pitcher Jack Hamilton, whose errant pitch derailed career of Tony Conigliaro, dead at 79 — Jack Hamilton, who pitched for the Mets but gained baseball infamy as a member of the California Angels when his errant inside pitch damaged the eyesight of Boston star Tony Conigliaro in 1967, has died.
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
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 …
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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.
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani gives up two runs in Angels' debut
Shohei Ohtani gives up two runs in Angels' debut
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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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets first baseman Dominic Smith to have MRI on strained right quad — PORT ST. LUCIE — Dominic Smith will have an MRI Monday on his right quad. The first baseman, who was benched for the first spring training game after showing up late to team meetings, strained his right quad Saturday.
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Dominic Smith shows up early and gets first spring action for Mets
Dominic Smith shows up early and gets first spring action for Mets
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
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.
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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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Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia return to White Sox lineup against Reds — Chicago Tribune — Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia return to the White Sox lineup as they continue Cactus League play with a game against the Reds on Sunday at Camelback Ranch. — Left-hander Jordan Guerrero …
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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
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays reliever Tepera is always on the hunt to get better — DUNEDIN - Blue Jays reliever Ryan Tepera, a good Texas boy, went hunting in the offseason, for whitetail deer, hogs and various kinds of birds. — “Quail, pheasant and Chukars,” said the man known in the clubhouse as Tep.
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Indians sign RHP Belisle to minor deal with camp invite — GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have signed veteran free agent reliever Matt Belisle to a minor league contract. — The 37-year-old right-hander will get a chance to win a spot in Cleveland's bullpen during spring training.
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Three things about today's Phillies-Yankees game and how to watch — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Aaron Nola will make his first start of spring training today as the Phillies host the New York Yankees at Spectrum Field. — The game, which begins at 1:05 p.m., will be broadcasted by NBC Sports Philadelphia and WIP-FM.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
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.
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.