Top News:
Associated Press:
Giancarlo Stanton says he's prepared for New York-level scrutiny — TAMPA, Fla. — Giancarlo Stanton said he is prepared for the scrutiny he will attract during his first season with the New York Yankees. — “The good times will be magnified and so will the bad,” the slugger said Wednesday.
RELATED:
Daily Record:
Yankees option Tyler Austin to Class AAA Scranton as roster takes shape — The Yankees took another step in whittling down to their opening day roster, as Tyler Austin and several others were optioned to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. — New York announced the moves during …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Erik Boland / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Giancarlo Stanton prepared for scrutiny that comes with playing for Yankees
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Jacoby Ellsbury is trying to be optimistic about his active return to the Yankees
Jacoby Ellsbury is trying to be optimistic about his active return to the Yankees
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
New York Post:
Mets concerned about Zack Wheeler, whose spot is in jeopardy — PORT ST. LUCIE — Zack Wheeler is the logical choice to start the season in the Mets rotation if Jason Vargas isn't ready, but he is not a slam dunk. — Privately, Mets officials were concerned about Wheeler's last exhibition start …
RELATED:
David Lennon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Michael Conforto takes healthy cuts as hope grows he can return before May 1
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets still have to settle on leadoff hitter, lineup and bullpen before end of spring
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto spend off day preparing for season
Mets' Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto spend off day preparing for season
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
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
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wong finally feels a sense of belonging — • On the practice field nearest their clubhouse Wednesday morning, early enough that shadows still played tricks on the batters' eyes, two Cardinals stepped into the cage for swings against rookie Alex Reyes. — One was Tommy Pham, his game-ready intensity lit.
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Ex-pitcher Greg Reynolds, who broke hand punching naked LSD attacker, wins over $2 million
Ex-pitcher Greg Reynolds, who broke hand punching naked LSD attacker, wins over $2 million
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:
Sporting News, Bleacher Report and MLB Baseball News …
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Cobb wraps up deal with Orioles — Pitcher Cobb wraps up deal with Orioles — Alex Cobb's comfort and familiarity with the American League East was the deciding factor in his decision to sign with the Baltimore Orioles. — “They used the AL East and the success I've …
RELATED:
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
In courting Alex Cobb, persistence was key for Orioles in nabbing free-agent starter
In courting Alex Cobb, persistence was key for Orioles in nabbing free-agent starter
Discussion:
BaltimoreBaseball.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers
Discussion:
DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Brutal blow for Mariners' bullpen: David Phelps lost for the season with Tommy John surgery — Phelps suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will need season-ending surgery. — PEORIA, Ariz. — The 2018 season is done for David Phelps before it even started.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Lookout Landing
RELATED:
ESPN:
Mariners' David Phelps to have Tommy John surgery, season over — Mariners reliever David Phelps has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow and will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team said Thursday. — The right-hander is expected to be sidelined 12-15 months.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Judge hits two HRs, hitting his stride as Yankees opener nears — TAMPA, Fla. - Aaron Judge is getting that let's-start-the-season-already feeling. — “I feel ready to go,” Judge said after belting two home runs in Wednesday night's 9-4 Yankees win against the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Cubs' Darvish limits former club to 3 hits over 6 innings — SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Yu Darvish looked as if he would stumble on the mound, yet still managed to unleash a pitch that struck out Drew Robinson of the Rangers. — “I got off-balance,” Darvish said through a translator.
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers lose to Braves, 3-2, in Francisco Liriano's up-and-down night … At Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — What happened: The Detroit Tigers lost, 3-2, to the Atlanta Braves. .... The Tigers took a 1- lead in the first after Leonys Martin had a leadoff double and scored …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
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:
baseballmusings.com and DRaysBay
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' top 20 prospects: Forecasting their major league debuts — The Detroit Tigers are in full rebuild mode, which means the focus has shifted to who will be playing at Comerica Park in the future, rather than the 25 guys who will start this season in Detroit.
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Perhaps the biggest story line throughout Diamondbacks spring training is the race to see who will be closing games for the team in 2018. — But the Diamondbacks relievers don't seem to be too concerned about it. — Take newly acquired right-hander Brad Boxberger for example.
Associated Press:
D-backs' Zack Greinke throws 60 pitches in return from groin injury — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — An even quieter than usual Zack Greinke declared his return to the mound Wednesday as simply “all right.” — The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander threw 60 pitches in an intrasquad game on a back field at the team's spring training facility.
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays nearing decision on Venters — Yankees second baseman Neil Walker was headed to the batting cage Monday for a little pre-batting practice when he was stopped and asked what, if anything, did he remember from his two career at-bats against Jonny Venters. — “He was filthy,” Walker, hitless in those at-bats, said.
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