MLB tells Judge recruiting Machado against rules  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Major League Baseball has told New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge his comments attempting to recruit Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado violate the sport's tampering rules, and Judge says he has learned the lesson.

Noah Syndergaard ‘super jacked’ to pitch Mets' opener  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard tried to put his second straight Opening Day start in perspective but let his emotion show.  —  “I'm super jacked for it,” he said Thursday.

Former Mets standout and Gibbs High product Ed Charles dies at 84  —  Gibbs High graduate Ed Charles, a key member of the 1969 Mets championship team, died at his New York home on Thursday at age 84.  —  Charles was the third baseman and unofficial poet laureate of the popular Mets team.

Camp report: Lefty Brent Suter scuffles with fielding and command vs. Texas  —  On the field: Left-hander Brent Suter had his roughest outing of the spring, allowing seven hits and four runs over four innings against Texas.  A couple of poor fielding plays on his part that made things tougher.

David Price looks good in spring training debut  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Making his first Grapefruit League start — and first start of any kind in a competitive environment since last July 22 — Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price gave up one hit and one walk in four innings Thursday …

Cubs starters set sights on surpassing ‘outstanding’ 2016 results  —  Chicago Tribune  —  To top the Cubs starting pitchers of 2016 to become manager Joe Maddon's best rotation, the current crop at least must match that group's 81 victories while compiling a 2.96 ERA.

Column: If the old Wrigley Field dugout walls could talk, the stories they would tell  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs eased concerns of a repeat of the start of the 2015 season when they announced the latest Wrigley Field renovations will be completed in time for the April 9 home opener.

Cardinals pitcher Flaherty is making an impression  —  St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to live hitters during St. Louis Cardinals spring training on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com  —  St. Louis Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly talks …

By showing restraint, MLB teams positioned themselves to go dumpster diving thanks to diminished value of free agents  —  TAMPA — Much to the further dismay of the Players Association and in particular Scott Boras, whose clients have ended up with about $300 million less than he promised them …

Detroit Tigers' Mike Fiers shelled again; rotation spot in jeopardy?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Mike Fiers might be running out of time.  —  Fiers, a right-hander and the Tigers' most notable offseason signing, has struggled during spring training.  His Grapefruit League debut was delayed …

Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Sitting at his locker on Thursday morning, David Peralta turned his right palm upward and clenched his fist.  The difference, he says, is tangible.  And it's the reason he can envision this year being far more productive for him than last.

Detroit Tigers great Alan Trammell visits Hall of Fame as first step for induction  —  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — At the end of a three-hour tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday, Alan Trammell was guided to one last stop.  His stop.  —  He stood before a piece of Corian solid surface mounted …

Will former No. 1 pick Dansby Swanson blossom into a star?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — If Dansby Swanson ever wanted to retreat into anonymity and ease his burden as one of the most scrutinized players on the Atlanta Braves' roster, there's an easy solution: He can just pass himself off as Charlie Culberson.

Mets' Michael Conforto to take first at-bats since dislocating shoulder last season  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Michael Conforto will take at-bats in a minor-league game Friday.  The All-Star outfielder has not hit in a game since he dislocated his shoulder and tore his anterior capsule while swinging at a pitch last August.

Which new faces in new places will thrive in 2018?  —  A 2016 paper titled “Turning up by Turning Over” published in the Journal of Business Psychology studied 712 major league players who changed teams from 2004 to 2015.  The study concluded there are benefits for certain players in changing teams …

Column: White Sox may be in race to bottom, but fans don't seem too concerned  —  Chicago Tribune  —  As the White Sox were working out Thursday at Camelback Ranch, players union head Tony Clark was on the other side of the valley discussing the “race to the bottom.”

Rangers likely done with free agent market this spring  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Rangers' expedition into the slow-moving free agent market appears to be over.  —  General manager Jon Daniels said Thursday he doesn't expect the team will pursue a free agent left fielder or a relief pitcher from the remaining pool of talent.