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 …

Next Slide  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Artie Lewicki hit the proverbial wall.  —  He was cruising through the Pittsburgh Pirates' order early in Sunday's Grapefruit League game at Joker Marchant Stadium when the early spring workload and unusually hot weather caught up with him.  Likely a little bit of adrenaline, too.

Cardinals' Daniel Poncedeleon continues comeback, returned to mound Sunday  —  The box score shows that Daniel Poncedeleon pitched two innings of three-hit, one-run ball for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday against the Houston Astros.  —  The box score doesn't begin to tell the story …

New Mets manager Callaway undaunted by early spring injuries  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New Mets manager Mickey Callaway says his team took precautionary steps before this current rash of bumps and bruises cropped up.  —  Starting right fielder Jay Bruce is day-to-day with a bout of plantar fasciitis …

White Sox prospect Micker Adolfo gets better news on injured elbow  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Rarely has the news been good when it comes to Micker Adolfo and injuries.  —  But the oft-sidelined White Sox prospect was encouraged by the results of a second examination on his right elbow …

Cubs starters still aiming for 200 innings, even as bullpen usage increases  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Jon Lester took notice that the Cubs restocked their fatigued bullpen with veterans Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek.  —  At the same time, Lester knows that for the relievers to succeed …

After allowing HR, Giants' Madison Bumgarner sharp in spring debut  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The first man to bat against San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner Sunday hit a wind-aided, opposite-field home run.  Bumgarner was overpowering after that in his spring training debut against the Chicago Cubs …

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 …

Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Following a season in which he performed like one of the best and most dominant starters in baseball, Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray isn't hoping to repeat his success.  He's looking to build on it.  —  “That was just kind of the floor,” Ray said.

Aaron Nola to start Opening Day for Phillies, but would yield to veteran  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Gabe Kapler figured why wait?  Aaron Nola will be his first Opening Day starter as Philadelphia Phillies manager.  —  “Barring anything crazy happening, he's our guy.

Alex Rodriguez returns to Yankees for second year as adviser  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees paid Alex Rodriguez $21 million to work as an adviser to team owner Hal Steinbrenner last year.  Apparently, Rodriguez found the work so agreeable he agreed to return — for what figures to be a relative pittance.

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.

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 …

Joe Maddon sees early signs of Cubs defense getting back to 2016 form  —  Chicago Tribune  —  After the Cubs regressed on defense last season, manager Joe Maddon has noticed a refreshed approach in spring training resembling the sharpness of 2016.  —  “On any given day …

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.