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 …

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.

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 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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.