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 …

Yoenis Cespedes homers in spring debut for Mets as Mickey Callaway considers keeping him in No. 2 hole … PORT ST. LUCIE — Yoenis Cespedes got off to a fast start Sunday.  The Mets slugger teed up a three-run home run that cleared the left field fence by at least 30 feet Sunday.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Rays Journal: A key step back for Venters, sharp day for Snell, big blast by Cron  —  FORT MYERS - The big heartwarming story will be when - and thus if - LHP Jonny Venters makes it back to the majors for the first time since 2012, having battled through three elbow surgeries.

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 …

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.

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw retires 3 Mariners as Seager brothers battle for 1st time  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw's spring debut was quick and efficient.  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers ace retired the Seattle Mariners' first three hitters on 11 pitches on Sunday.

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 …

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.