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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

‘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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …