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 …

Michael Conforto takes healthy cuts as hope grows he can return before May 1  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The southern tail of Wednesday's Nor'easter sent winds whipping through First Data Field, but the forceful gusts were no match for Michael Conforto, who blasted a pair of home runs …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Ron Gardenhire: Buck Farmer in Detroit Tigers' bullpen plans  —  The Tigers' Ron Gardenhire is one of six new managers in MLB this season.  A look at the Class of 2018.  Video by Ryan Ford/DFP Wochit  —  CONNECT  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Opinions can change quickly in the final week of camp …

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.

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 …

Mariners Claim Dario Alvarez From Cubs  —  The Mariners have claimed left-hander Dario Alvarez off waivers from the Cubs, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweets.  Alvarez will head to minor league camp with his new organization, and he'll give the Mariners 38 players on their 40-man roster.