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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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Shohei Ohtani, Angels undaunted by rocky spring: 'He's going to wow us,' says Mike Trout — PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - The dozens of reporters who stake out the Los Angeles Angels' parking lot each morning, awaiting Shohei Ohtani's arrival, staring at him while he dresses …
Discussion:
Sporting News, MLB Baseball News … and Bleacher Report
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
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
David Lennon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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 …
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Jacob deGrom and Michael Conforto spend off day preparing for season
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets still have to settle on leadoff hitter, lineup and bullpen before end of spring
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:
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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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.
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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:
MLB Trade Rumors and BaltimoreBaseball.com
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Alex Cobb fills a hole as Orioles try to keep up in AL East
Alex Cobb fills a hole as Orioles try to keep up in AL East
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
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 …
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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
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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Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Seung Hwan Oh gets work visa, to make Blue Jays debut
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
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs starter Yu Darvish enjoys return to Surprise in beating former team Rangers — Chicago Tribune — Yu Darvish's return to Surprise Stadium started with a chat down the right field line with a Rangers staff member and concluded with a tip of the cap to Rangers manager Jeff Banister.
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
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 …
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.
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
Clark Spencer / miamiherald:
Jose Fernandez's death put into motion a series of events that still impact Marlins today — JUPITER — The death of pitching ace Jose Fernandez in 2016 triggered a series of costly roster decisions that the Marlins' new owners are having to contend with now. — There is no shortage of ‘what ifs’ with how it all played out.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …