Top News:
Bloomberg:
Yankees and Red Sox Are Close to Deal for June 2019 London Series — Details for series at London Stadium still must be worked out — Labor contract calls for commitment to international games — The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are nearing an agreement to play a two-game …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, The Comeback, NESN.com and Over the Monster
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Associated Press:
Baseball notes: Dodgers' Turner suffers broken wrist — Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner suffered a broken left wrist when he was hit by a pitch in the first inning of Monday's exhibition game, the Los Angeles Times reported. He is scheduled to be examined Tuesday …
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Craig Kimbrel: Infant daughter's heart surgery ‘toughest thing’ his family has been through — With his infant daughter's condition improving following heart surgery, Craig Kimbrel rejoined the Boston Red Sox on Monday, threw live batting practice and declared he will be ready for Opening Day next week.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Over the Monster
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees, Red Sox nearing agreement to play two-game series in London in 2019 — TAMPA — London is calling — and the Yankees and Red Sox may finally take their rivalry across the Atlantic. — The two teams are closing in on an agreement to play a two-game, regular-season series June 29-30 …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jon Lester on Cubs' outlook as spring training winds down: 'I like where we're at' — Chicago Tribune — With six days of games left in Arizona, Cubs left-hander Jon Lester summed up the state of spring affairs. — “It's been a great camp,” Lester said Monday night after pitching 6 1/3 innings …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs opening roster could come down to minor-league options — Chicago Tribune — Finalizing the opening day roster might not be as urgent for the Cubs as the need for insurance during the season. — That's what manager Joe Maddon conveyed Monday as the Cubs try to finalize their roster by their final Cactus League game Sunday.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
This could be Willson Contreras' season to clean up as Cubs' No. 4 hitter
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun Times:
Jon Lester's new security blanket puts Cub pitcher's yips, base runners to sleep
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets should use caution with Jason Vargas and use the one-time ‘Five Aces’ rotation for start of the season — PORT ST. LUCIE — Dust off the Five Aces posters from 2016 or ‘17. The day may finally have arrived when the Mets’ five pitchers, formerly known as all aces, will be in the same rotation for at least one turn.
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Associated Press:
Jose Altuve finalizes 7-year, $163.5M deal with Astros — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — AL MVP Jose Altuve and the World Series champion Houston Astros have finalized a $163.5 million, seven-year contract that guarantees an additional $151 million over five seasons.
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Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Alex Rodriguez returns to Yankees camp in advisory role — TAMPA, Fla. - No. 13 is back in camp. — Special adviser Alex Rodriguez arrived at Steinbrenner Field on Monday afternoon, slipping onto the field - in a Yankees uniform - without fanfare (or any prior announcement to the press).
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Associated Press:
Tigers prospect Franklin Perez to miss 3 months — DETROIT — Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Franklin Perez is expected to miss at least three months with a right lat strain. — The Tigers say Perez was injured in a minor league game Sunday. There is no surgery recommended at this point …
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Franklin Perez Out Three Months With Strained Lat
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Stephen Ruiz / Orlando Sentinel:
Detroit Tigers plug Clermont's Shane Greene into closer's role — Coming off reconstructive elbow surgery after his only season at the University of West Florida, Shane Greene was a man without a team. — The Clermont resident had lost his scholarship. He had transferred …
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John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds sent top prospect Nick Senzel down, the question is for how long — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — It was going to happen sooner or later. The Reds took the drama out of the equation by doing it six days before they broke camp. — Top prospect Nick Senzel was re-assigned to the minor league camp Monday.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
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John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Spring training numbers matter for some but not all — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Spring training numbers can be deceptive - in both ways, good or bad. — Call it the Josias Manzanillo Rule. Manzanillo was terrific for the Reds spring training of 2003. He put up a 0.75 ERA and only allowed four hits in 12 innings that spring.
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 …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and USA Today
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Steven Souza Jr. knows that part of the cost of doing business as a modern power hitter is striking out. That does not mean he has to like doing it - or that he's comfortable striking out as often as he has in his career.
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Associated Press:
Jorge Polanco's 80-game suspension hits Twins hard — FORT MYERS, Fla. — About a month ago, Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco learned he had tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance. — The news of his 80-game suspension, including ineligibility for postseason play …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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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.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Justin Turner is injured in Cactus League game — The Dodgers braced themselves Monday for the possibility of opening the season without one of their most valuable players. — Justin Turner was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the first inning of Monday's exhibition game.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and True Blue LA
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Making a case for Cards' Martinez — St. Louis Cardinals infielder Jose Martinez hits soft toss balls to warm-up for live batting practice during St. Louis Cardinals spring training on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Red Reporter
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
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Don't expect to see too much of Colome in the 8th inning this year — TAMPA - The Rays were not shy about using closer Alex Colome in the eighth inning last season, and he had more success than one would realize, given all the runners that seemed to be on base. — Colome led the majors with six saves of our or more outs.
