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.
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Erik Boland / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Giancarlo Stanton prepared for scrutiny that comes with playing for Yankees — TAMPA, Fla. — The expectations for the 2018 Yankees are through the roof. — And Giancarlo Stanton is good with that. — “The fans expect a lot,” Stanton said Wednesday afternoon. “I expect a lot, too.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge proves he is ready for regular season by hitting two home runs in Yankees' rout of Orioles — TAMPA - With Opening Day less than a week away, Aaron Judge appears to be in regular-season form. — Judge went 2-for-3 with two homers, four RBIs, four runs scored and two walks on Wednesday night …
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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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:
MLB Baseball News …, New York Post 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:
MLB Baseball News …, Sporting News and Bleacher Report
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Revived Gerrit Cole enjoying fresh slate with Houston Astros
Revived Gerrit Cole enjoying fresh slate with Houston Astros
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
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.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets still have to settle on leadoff hitter, lineup and bullpen before end of spring
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 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
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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Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers
Source: Twins place Kennys Vargas on waivers
Discussion:
DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
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
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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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
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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.
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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
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
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Happ has earned large chunk of leadoff duties to start season for Cubs — Chicago Tribune — Switch-hitter Ian Happ has convinced manager Joe Maddon he can handle the leadoff duties for the Cubs, at least to start the start of the regular season. — “You'll probably see him there a bit,” Maddon said Wednesday.
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Acquire Sam Gaviglio, Designate Matt Dermody — The Blue Jays have acquired right-hander Sam Gaviglio from the Royals for cash considerations or a player to be named later, according to an announcement from Toronto. To make room for Gaviglio, the Blue Jays designated left-hander Matt Dermody …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, FanRag Sports and Bluebird Banter