Top News:
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 …
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Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
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 …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Ex-pitcher Greg Reynolds, who broke hand punching naked LSD attacker, wins over $2 million — Former MLB pitcher Greg Reynolds believes his baseball career was cut short after he punched a naked man on LSD who was trying to break into his home in 2015. — On Monday, a California jury agreed …
Discussion:
New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and Mercury News
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Shohei Ohtani, Angels undaunted by rocky spring: 'He's going to wow us,' says Mike Trout
Shohei Ohtani, Angels undaunted by rocky spring: 'He's going to wow us,' says Mike Trout
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals bringing back ‘biggest arm in camp’ for Grapefruit debut — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals expected everything about Jordan Hicks' spring training to be quick — his fastball, his rise, his athleticism — everything except for his exit. — The pitcher who manager Mike Matheny referred …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter, Ozuna homer back-to-back in 13-6 Cards win — JUPITER, Fla. • Matt Carpenter and Marcell Ozuna, who will bat third and fourth this season for the Cardinals, hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning Wednesday. By that time, the Cardinals already were well ahead …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notebook: Waino dominates Mets (minor leaguers); Reyes raring to go
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
No closer is no problem so far for Cardinals
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets still have to settle on leadoff hitter, lineup and bullpen before end of spring — One of the telling signs that camp is about to close is when a truck arrives that will carry belongings back to New York. That truck arrived earlier this week, and the Mets have just four Grapefruit League games left …
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto spend off day preparing for season — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — As most of their teammates enjoyed a day off Wednesday, Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto played in a minors game at First Data Field in front of a crowd of roughly 150 players, executives and media members.
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets facing St. Louis Cardinals three times before season-opening series
Mets facing St. Louis Cardinals three times before season-opening series
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Oh, Boy: New Jays reliever delivers in style after getting work visa — DUNEDIN — As a younger player in his native South Korea, Seung Hwan Oh was the ultimate closer, hence his nickname back then, ‘The Final Boss.’ — The Blue Jays won't be looking for exactly that from their new reliever …
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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 Good Phight, The Comeback and USA Today
Associated Press:
Rays' catchers using wristbands amid rotation experiment — PORT CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Major League Baseball made game-calling more difficult for catchers this winter when it changed the rules governing mound visits. For backstops with the Tampa Bay Rays, things got even trickier …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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 …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's shut down A.J. Puk with biceps issue — PHOENIX - A.J. Puk, the prized prospect projected to be in the A's rotation at some point this season, has been shut down with biceps soreness, according to a source. — Puk received an MRI and there is no indication that the left-hander …
Discussion:
Mercury News and MLB Trade Rumors
Thomas Boswell / Chicago Tribune:
Commentary: After bold, bland and cool, the Nationals' new manager says let's have fun — The Washington Post — The Washington Nationals have had a brash, audacious manger, Davey Johnson, who said, “World Series or Bust.” They tried a bland middle-manager, Matt Williams, who pasted sampler slogans on the wall.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Jacoby Ellsbury is trying to be optimistic about his active return to the Yankees — TAMPA, Fla. - Jacoby Ellsbury hasn't conceded going on the 10-day disabled list to start the season, though that's where the Yankees are leaning. — Sidelined most of spring training due to a strained right oblique …
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers — FORT MYERS, Fla. -Unable to find a suitable trade offer for Kennys Vargas, the Twins' have placed the switch-hitting slugger on waivers, according to a person with direct knowledge. — Designated for release or assignment on March 16, Vargas' 48-hour waiver period started on Tuesday.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Alex Cobb fills a hole as Orioles try to keep up in AL East — In the end, Alex Cobb got the contract everyone expected. He just had to wait a little longer than he would have liked. At the start of free agency, Dave Cameron of FanGraphs predicted Cobb would get a four-year, $60 million deal.
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Eduardo A. Encina / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Orioles, right-hander Alex Cobb agree to four-year deal
Orioles, right-hander Alex Cobb agree to four-year deal
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun
Tampa Bay Times:
For starters: Rays vs. Red Sox — No rain in the forecast today for the Rays. Just sunny skies and those Red Sox, who are making the ride up I-75 for the 1:05 p.m. start at Charlotte Sports Park.The Rays are running out a lineup that
Discussion:
Over the Monster