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 …

Reports: Minnesota Twins agree to contract with first baseman Logan Morrison  —  With spring training camp now open, the Minnesota Twins have added a power bat for their offense in free agent first baseman Logan Morrison, according to multiple reports.  —  Morrison, 30, hit 38 home runs …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

‘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.

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 …

Mariners notebook: Marco Gonzales looking forward to getting a pitch back  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - With one full season under his belt since Tommy John surgery, Mariners southpaw Marco Gonzales is ready to reintroduce the cutter to his repertoire.  It is a weapon that could have helped him last year …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.