Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Kelly ready to prove his point in Memphis — • Carson Kelly, who rarely dodges a media request, was reported to have nothing to say late Sunday afternoon after being told he was being sent to Class AAA Memphis after a three-for-30 spring. — “I didn't want to go crazy,” …
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets facing St. Louis Cardinals three times before season-opening series — The recent trend has been for the Mets to start the season with a division foe, but they will instead face the Cardinals next Thursday when the season opens. — While that pairing is certainly an intriguing matchup …
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets righty Matt Harvey ready for season after best outing of spring training — JUPITER, Fla. — At a time when teams are allowed to have grand thoughts, the Mets are allowed to believe in what they have seen from Matt Harvey this spring. — Following the worst year of his career …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notebook: Waino dominates Mets (minor leaguers); Reyes raring to go — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals didn't want Adam Wainwright to face the big-league New York Mets on Tuesday because he will be pitching against them 10 days from now in New York.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
No closer is no problem so far for Cardinals — • With new pitching coach Mike Maddux along with him, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny had his annual late-spring chat with owners Tuesday and went straight to the bullpen. — He didn't wait for Maddux to call on the inevitable question.
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets comfortable with Adrian Gonzalez, who hits first homer in win over Cardinals
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Voit stars but Cardinals fall to Mets 8-7
Jorge L. Ortiz / Tennessean.com:
Revived Gerrit Cole enjoying fresh slate with Houston Astros — SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs. Recent history suggests otherwise. USA TODAY Sports — CONNECT — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — When agent Scott Boras met with Gerrit Cole for lunch recently …
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Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Is ‘bullpenning’ MLB's best path to 27 outs - or a gateway to ‘mediocrity’? — Finding the best path to 27 outs is perhaps baseball's most evolving and enduring puzzle. Yet in many quarters, a permanent solution appears at hand. — “Some form of bullpenning,” Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto …
Eduardo A. Encina / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Orioles, right-hander Alex Cobb agree to four-year deal — SARASOTA, Fla. — With fewer than 10 days to go until Opening Day, the Orioles are nearing their biggest upgrade of the offseason: a deal with former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb, according to an industry source.
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun
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Adam Wells / Bleacher Report:
Alex Cobb, Orioles Reportedly Agree to Contract After 7 Seasons with Rays
Alex Cobb, Orioles Reportedly Agree to Contract After 7 Seasons with Rays
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Camden Depot, DRaysBay, MLB Trade Rumors and Lone Star Ball
Roch Kubatko / School of Roch:
Orioles nearing deal with Alex Cobb (final update)
Orioles nearing deal with Alex Cobb (final update)
Discussion:
Orioles Hangout and baseballmusings.com
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Where else Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton cash could've gone — TAMPA — The Yankees upgraded a strength rather than address a potential weakness in the offseason because they believed Giancarlo Stanton was a better risk at 10 years and $265 million than Yu Darvish at close to half that commitment.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online and Pinstripe Alley
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Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Boone's opening day Yankees lineup will be seasoned by analytics
Aaron Boone's opening day Yankees lineup will be seasoned by analytics
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Seung Hwan Oh gets work visa, to make Blue Jays debut — DUNEDIN — With the red tape out of the way, Seung Hwan Oh is finally ready to make his Blue Jays debut on Wednesday afternoon. — Actually, the South Korean right-hander has been ready for a couple of weeks, but without a work visa …
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Alex Butler / UPI:
Russell Martin makes great catch, gets smacked in face by pole
Russell Martin makes great catch, gets smacked in face by pole
Discussion:
The Comeback and USA Today
Jose M. Romero / Associated Press:
Brewers — including Hank as The Beast — re-enact ‘The Sandlot’ in video — Even before the start of the season, the Milwaukee Brewers have their first hit. — Milwaukee released a 2-minute, 35-second video celebrating the 25th anniversary of the movie “The Sandlot” last weekend …
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Michael Lorenzen dealing with injury — Reds right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen struggled in his second start of spring training Thursday against the Chicago White Sox The Enquirer/Adam Baum — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Right-hander Michael Lorenzen's quest to make the starting rotation is probably over.
Discussion:
Red Reporter and redsminorleagues.com
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Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Where is Nationals reliever Koda Glover? … WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As the final days of spring training slide by, and necessary decisions about bullpen personnel slide nearer, Koda Glover remains momentarily irrelevant. Once considered the Nationals' future closer, more recently considered …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays' Matt Andriese: A starter in bullpen land — PORT CHARLOTTE — If Matt Andriese had a team-issued business card it would read: Multi-inning/high-leverage relief pitcher. But before handing it to you, he would take a pen and add one more role: starting pitcher.
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Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays OF Mallex Smith's hamstring passes test
Tania Ganguli / Los Angeles Times:
Isaiah Thomas is open to staying with the Lakers even in a backup role … As Isaiah Thomas answered fan questions on Twitter on Sunday, many of the messages led to reciprocal positivity. — Lakers fans were telling him they wanted him to stay a Laker next year, and he was telling them he would love that.
Discussion:
NESN.com and FanRag Sports
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers may leave Florida with a dozen pitchers and 13 position players to start the 2018 season. — Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire acknowledged on Tuesday that's the split he'd prefer to have heading north, before adding that no final decision has been made.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees' plan to help Gary Sanchez limit mound visits revealed — Last Thursday, Gary Sanchez used a wristband during a spring training game for the first time. — It was a concept the Yankees discussed last year in an attempt to offset sign-stealing and limit the number of times Sanchez …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
Turner's broken wrist will not need surgery — Los Angeles third baseman Justin Turner's broken left wrist is expected to heal without surgery, according to Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts. — Turner was hurt Monday when hit by a pitch from Oakland's Kendall Graveman.
Rotoworld.com:
Jose Can You See? — San Diego Padres OF Jose Pirela might be in for a huge year for his fantasy owners. While one should never put a lot of stock into spring numbers, Pirela is simply picking up where he left off last summer. The Padres gave him a chance to play regularly around the middle …