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2:20 PM ET, February 25, 2018

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 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 …
RELATED:
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
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
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
RELATED:
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.
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
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Ex-Rays prospect Andrew Toles working his way back from knee surgery for Dodgers
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.
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Mets' Dominic Smith returns to lineup, ready to move on after benching
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
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.
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:   Spring training Rangers things: Jurickson Profar's good first impression; Connor Sadzeck, not so much
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
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
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 …
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 …
RELATED:
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:   Pitcher Hector Santiago glad to be ‘back home’ with White Sox
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
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
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.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter catches a glimpse of rookie Reyes, strikes up conversation  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • They didn't exchange a word while rookie Alex Reyes threw another in his long line of side sessions this spring.  Real-time instructions and suggestions came from pitching coach Mike Maddux.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 …
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.
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.
 
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 More News: 
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets legend Mike Piazza visits camp, doesn't rule out owning MLB team in future
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Fowler, Pham to make first starts
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Happ returns to Cubs leadoff spot against Giants
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
For starters, Rays at Twins, with Venters making first spring outing since 2013
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Two-fer homers? Radical ideas to keep MLB fans engaged
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Phil Nevin, picked before Jeter, starts his own Yankees legacy
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Kevin Kernan / New York Post:
Mickey Callaway hops in stands to show a whole new Mets world
Brett Cyrgalis / New York Post:
Rangers could face leadership vacuum after trade deadline
 Earlier Picks: 
Associated Press:
Notebook: Former Cardinal Siegrist signs with Pirates
Discussion: MLB Baseball 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
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Clint Frazier, Estevan Florial …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
That guy standing by Cash in the dugout? All part of Rays' plan
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' infield combinations on Joe Maddon's mind as Ben Zobrist heals
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Rays prospect Brent Honeywell to have Tommy John surgery
 

 
From WeSmirch:

BBC:
Prince Harry to return to UK for Invictus Games anniversary

Keith Caulfield / Billboard:
Taylor Swift Makes Historic Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘The Tortured Poets Department’

TMZ.com:
Aubrey O'Day Claims Diddy Wanted to Buy Silence in Return for Publishing Rights

 
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