Top News:
Jorge L. Ortiz / Daily Record:
Nationals' treasure: Victor Robles is key to the future, with or without Bryce Harper — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Back in 2005, Ryan Zimmerman was the first-ever draft pick of the newly minted Washington Nationals, an All-American from neighboring Virginia expected to steer the franchise through …
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
A baseball scout and his hotel room: A love story spanning four decades — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - This eclectic 194-room hotel in Old Town has purple carpet, pink doors, and yellow and orange walls. — It has changed names nine times. — It has even changed addresses without moving.
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Mike Rizzo waits on a contract extension from the Nationals, one he's easily earned
Mike Rizzo waits on a contract extension from the Nationals, one he's easily earned
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and MLB Trade Rumors
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
NY Mets equipped to adjust after Jason Vargas injury — Mets manager Mickey Callaway discusses Jason Vargas and Noah Syndergaard Matt Ehalt/NorthJersey.com — When the Mets signed Jason Vargas last month, they added insurance to protect against the injuries that would occur throughout the year.
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Rotoworld.com:
ST Daily: Polanco Gets Popped — The Twins made an unexpected run to the Wild Card Game last fall, fueled in part by a torrid final two months of the season from Jorge Polanco. The shortstop batted .316/.377/.553 from the beginning of August until the end of the regular season …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
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Associated Press:
Baseball notes: Twins shortstop Polanco suspended for 80 games — Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco was suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy. He tested positive for the drug Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Arizona Republic:
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: SATURDAY, MAY 26 - MONDAY, MAY 28 — MLB's annual league-wide observance of Memorial Day will honor those who lost their lives while serving their country. MLB again plans to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance through which ballparks on Memorial …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Bless You Boys and DRaysBay
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Mike Fiers: Back issue not major; must take things slow — LAKELAND, Fla. - Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Mike Fiers said Monday morning he hopes the lower back stiffness he is dealing with subsides before the start of the regular season.
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Mike Fiers' back issue could open spot in Detroit Tigers' rotation
Mike Fiers' back issue could open spot in Detroit Tigers' rotation
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Alex Butler / UPI:
Milwaukee Brewers recreate ‘Sandlot’ scene — The Milwaukee Brewers posted a video of its players re-enacting a scene from The Sandlot. — Milwaukee published the footage to its social media accounts on Sunday night. — “There's heroes and there's legends,” the Brewers wrote as a caption on the video.
Discussion:
TODAY.com, NESN.com and The Comeback
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Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Brewers will open with Stephen Vogt on the DL, leaving Piña and Bandy as their catchers
Brewers will open with Stephen Vogt on the DL, leaving Piña and Bandy as their catchers
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Mike Debonis / Washington Post:
Spending bill could quash Minor League Baseball players' wage claims … A massive government spending bill that Congress is expected to consider this week could include a provision exempting Minor League Baseball players from federal labor laws, according to three congressional officials familiar with the talks.
Discussion:
NewsCut, Royals Review, The Comeback, Baseball Prospectus, MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors and redsminorleagues.com
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Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
NL East Notes: Nationals, Murphy, Phillies, Rupp — There is “virtually no chance” Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy will be ready for Opening Day, Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com writes. Murphy, who's working his way back from the microfracture knee surgery he underwent last October …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Jorge Castillo / Washington Post:
Finally healthy, Nationals reliever Tim Collins makes pitch for a big league return
Finally healthy, Nationals reliever Tim Collins makes pitch for a big league return
Discussion:
Nationals Pastime
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Manny Machado finds comfort at shortstop as he prepares for his next big move — SARASOTA, Fla. — If Manny Machado were any more comfortable in spring training, he'd be carrying a hammock out to the field with him. — Six years after his last full-time exposure to playing shortstop …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
Analysis: Shohei Ohtani's spring struggles underscore the difficult path to two-way success in MLB — The Washington Post — Shohei Ohtani's arrival in Major League Baseball this winter was met with so much hype, anticipation and historic recalibration — he is seeking to become the first full-time …
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards shift their thinking, decide Kelly needs to play in Memphis — not wait in St. Louis — JUPITER, Fla. • Before he watched members of last year's Class AAA club accept the rings they earned by winning the Pacific Gulf Coast League championship, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny made a prediction.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Indians Release Melvin Upton Jr., Ryan Hanigan — The Indians announced Monday that they have released outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and catcher Ryan Hanigan (via Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com). Both players signed minor league contracts with the Tribe over the winter.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Let's Go Tribe
Fred Kerber / New York Post:
Syndergaard was so ‘nasty’ he threw off Mets' plan for him — SARASOTA, Fla. — Here was Noah Syndergaard on the mound in the seventh inning of a spring training game. The pitch count was low — 72 through six innings. But there was one other factor that caused manager Mickey Callaway to stay with his horse.
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Peter King / Sports Illustrated:
Inside Kirk Cousins' Fast Free Agency: Parental Jerseys, Silent Auctions and a Match Made in Minnesota — Plus items on the Jets-Colts draft trade, Joe Thomas' retirement, the Bills' big week, best/worst free agency moves and much more — Created with Sketch.
Discussion:
Arizona Sports, Cards Wire, ProFootballTalk and Pro Football Rumors
Ryan Ford / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers have two of MLB's highest-paid players by position — Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reportedly agreed to a five-year, $151 million contract extension Friday. When the extension kicks in for the 2020 season, Altuve will become the highest-paid second baseman in baseball …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter on the move again for Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • For the first time this spring, Matt Carpenter moved to third base and Jedd Gyorko started at second for the Cardinals on Sunday. Carpenter later turned up for three innings at second base and Gyorko went back to third for three innings.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
25-man roster decisions loom as Cubs enter last days of spring training — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs likely will finalize their 25-man roster before their Cactus League finale on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise. — In addition to performance, there are a few procedural issues among …
Marcus Hayes / Philly.com:
Phillies should keep Jesmuel Valentin at Lehigh Valley | Marcus Hayes — CLEARWATER, Fla. — It would make for a nice, neat story: — Kid gets cut from the team one year because he's a little too green, goes down to the minors and gets hurt, rehabs like crazy, reports to camp this year fitter and readier, and plays even better.
ESPN:
Players ready to crush their 2018 projections — Projections are tools, and like most tools, they're not perfect. No matter how many sources of information you use, no matter how advanced the data, there always will be some players with specific situations that a computer projection system will have trouble with.