Top News:
ESPN:
Athletics designate Brandon Moss for assignment, claim Jairo Labourt off waivers from Reds — The Oakland Athletics designated outfielder Brandon Moss for assignment on Sunday and claimed left-hander Jairo Labourt off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. — Moss, 34, was acquired by the A's …
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Associated Press:
Athletics designate Brandon Moss for assignment — MESA, Ariz. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics designated Brandon Moss for assignment Sunday and claimed left-hander Jairo Labourt off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. — Oakland had acquired Moss from Kansas City in January for a second stint …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals cut seven, give Schafer a chance to make call on pitching — JUPITER, Fla. • What began as a long shot because the Cardinals and Jordan Schafer weren't sure exactly how a player could be both a lefty specialist and an outfielder got even tougher when Schafer's elbow gave way …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bader, Munoz stay hot but Cards fall to Houston 4-1 — JUPITER, Fla. • Outfielder Harrison Bader, who has had five hits in his last two starts, singled twice and drove in a run on Sunday. And Cardinals third baseman Yairo Munoz, a spring training find so far, had a double and single and scored that run.
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Stroman, Tulo are still big question marks for Blue Jays — CLEARWATER, Fla. — It's nearing the half-way point at spring training and Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is getting half-way sick of talking to the media twice a day. — For sure, some of the questions directed Gibbons …
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George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Starter or reliever? Detroit Tigers preparing Buck Farmer for bullpen — Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch spoke to reporters on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Lakeland, Fla. Video by George Sipple/DFP — LAKELAND, Fla. — There's no debate this spring. Right-handed pitcher Buck Farmer …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers pitcher Alex Wilson fighting for starting rotation spot — Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch spoke to reporters on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Lakeland, Fla. Video by George Sipple/DFP — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It's been a spring of change for Alex Wilson.
Detroit Free Press:
What happened — The Detroit Tigers lost to the Washington Nationals, 6-2. ... Alex Wilson started and pitched well before the third inning, when he allowed four straight men to reach with two outs. ... Jim Adduci recorded two hits. ... Jeimer Candelario delivered another opposite-field extra-base hit. ...
Bob Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
As Shohei Ohtani attempts to make history, a hand from Albert Pujols would help — SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs. Recent history suggests otherwise. USA TODAY Sports — CONNECT — TEMPE, Ariz. - It hasn't been done in 99 years …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Giancarlo Stanton's initial struggles in left not an issue for Yankees' manager — TAMPA, Fla. - Out in left field, nothing much went right for Giancarlo Stanton. — Racing after the first two fly balls hit his way, Stanton lost both in the sun. The wind was whipping, too …
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Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
Carson Fulmer starts for White Sox vs. Padres; left-hander Robbie Ross signs — Chicago Tribune — Carson Fulmer will make his second start of the spring when the White Sox face the Padres in Cactus League play Sunday at Camelback Ranch. — The right-hander was roughed up in his first outing …
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Lone Star Ball
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Adam Baum / Cincinnati.com:
Rough spring training outing for Cincinnati Reds' Anthony DeSclafani won't deter optimism — Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani had a rough second outing in spring training Sunday, allowing three earned runs on five hits in two innings against the Kansas City Royals The Enquirer/Adam Baum
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs reliever Justin Wilson hopes to rewrite the script — Chicago Tribune — Left-handed reliever Justin Wilson had a difficult time last summer after being acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline. — The Cubs had hoped Wilson would replace Wade Davis as closer in 2018 …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Ex-Orioles pitcher Sammy Stewart, who fell on hard times, dies at 63 — Former Baltimore pitcher Sammy Stewart, who helped the Orioles win the 1983 World Series before falling into a life of crack cocaine addiction and arrests, has died. He was 63. — The Henderson County Sheriff's Office …
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … With Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray at the top and no real weak spot beyond that, the Diamondbacks might reasonably believe their rotation has a chance to be the best in the National League. The only concern is what comes after them.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Journal: Mallex shows off, a Roe v. Wade reference and a Maris sighting — TAMPA — The Rays are talking about giving Mallex Smith the opportunity to play regularly in leftfield. — In Sunday's 9-1 win over the Yankees, he showed why he could earn it, rapping three hits …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Returning from second TJ surgery would be one impressive feat for Eovaldi — TAMPA - There's no question what kind of physical shape Rays pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is in as he works his way back to the majors after a second Tommy John surgery. — “He comes from the Nolan Ryan school of baseball …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Baseball News …
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Estrada to expand his repertoire — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Marco Estrada has been lights out so far in Grapefruit League action and the Blue Jays' starter is hoping to shine even brighter in the regular season by mixing up his pitches more often. — Estrada, who went 10-9 with an ERA of 4.98 …
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Rotation candidate Gabriel Ynoa was neither lucky nor good in 10-8 O's victory over Red Sox — Orioles fifth starter candidate Gabriel Ynoa drew the short straw on Sunday afternoon. — Ynoa is competing for a spot in the Orioles regular season starting rotation and he was pitching at Ed Smith Stadium …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Cubs' Jon Lester's answer to head-scratching throwing problems: Be like Mike — Sign-Up for our Newsletter … SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Three years later, Cubs pitcher Jon Lester still can't throw to first base. — Not by any typical baseball definition anyway.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Jimmy Rollins wants to retire as a Phillie, but only his way — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jimmy Rollins put on a pinstriped Phillies jersey Sunday for the first time in nearly four years. Rollins, at Spectrum Field for a ceremony to honor the 2008 world champions, had not returned to the Phillies since he was traded after the 2014 season.
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Steven Matz has allowed five runs in both spring training starts — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The saying goes that results don't matter in spring training, but Steven Matz isn't shrugging off his pair of five-run outings to start camp. — Matz yielded five runs in 2/3 innings …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
One pitch leads to three unlikely paths to Phillies' bullpen — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Mark Leiter Jr. was in the middle of a college start, a long way from the major leagues, when he first decided to throw his splitter. Hector Neris fired his first splitter just before the Phillies signed him to a contract he thought he'd never see.
