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12:25 PM ET, March 22, 2018

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 Top News: 
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.
Discussion: Japan Times
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Chicago Cubs looking for fast start in 2018  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs remember what it was like in 2016, and they remember what happened last year.  They remember all the fun they had two years ago, and how tired they were at the end of last season.  —  The past two years could hold the key to how they perform in 2018.
Discussion: ESPN
Associated Press:
White Sox see better days approaching after 5 losing seasons  —  CHICAGO — For a franchise with five straight losing seasons and one playoff appearance since the 2005 World Series championship, the Chicago White Sox sure are an optimistic bunch.  —  They come into the year with a long line …
Discussion: ESPN
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Ian Happ has earned large chunk of leadoff duties to start season for Cubs
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Cubs' opener is a week from today — but Joe Maddon would like more time at camp
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Yu Darvish feels stronger than ever, and has developed bond with Willson Contreras
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals pave way for Motte to join Memphis, unless another team snags him  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • In order to get Jason Motte from their major-league camp to Class AAA Memphis' bullpen, the Cardinals had to perform a transaction tango, and that process began Thursday morning.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mikolas, Weaver both to start Thursday for Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals will have two members of their rotation starting on Thursday but only one of them will be facing the Atlanta Braves in the regularly scheduled game.  Miles Mikolas will work six innings for 95 pitches' worth …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wong finally feels a sense of belonging
Discussion: Baseball Prospectus
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Norris looks for reset as relief roles remain in flux
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Diamondbacks' Souza has strained right shoulder, to get MRI  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. will get an MRI on Thursday after straining his right shoulder during a spring training game Wednesday night.  —  The team announced Souza's diagnosis following …
RELATED:
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:   Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
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:
Erik Boland / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Giancarlo Stanton prepared for scrutiny that comes with playing for Yankees
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:   Aaron Judge hits two HRs, hitting his stride as Yankees opener nears
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
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers trim down to 28 players with Opening Day a week away  —  The Tigers optioned left-handed pitchers Chad Bell and Blaine Hardy to Triple-A Toledo and sent six others to minor league camp on Thursday  —  LAKELAND, Fla. - The Detroit Tigers made a significant round of cut Thursday morning to trim the roster to 28.
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers lose to Braves, 3-2, in Francisco Liriano's up-and-down night
Discussion: Talking Chop and Bless You Boys
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:   Detroit Tigers' top 20 prospects: Forecasting their major league debuts
Associated Press:
National League West capsules  —  Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:  —  ___  —  Los Angeles Dodgers  —  2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.  —  Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).  —  He's Here: OF Matt Kemp …
RELATED:
Associated Press:   National League East capsules
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Michael Conforto impresses as he works way back from shoulder injury, most likely to start season around May 1  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — The ball had barely left Michael Conforto's bat when the chatter began.  The Mets outfielder had just taken a slider from the team's 2017 top draft pick …
RELATED:
New York Post:   Mets concerned about Zack Wheeler, whose spot is in jeopardy
Fred Kerber / New York Post:   Mets have Jacob deGrom right where they want him for season
Maureen Mullen / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
ROOKIE DRIVER  —  With those four, a crop of homegrown burgeoning stars, and a mix of solid veterans the Red Sox are poised as well as any team to win the World Series this season.  Rookie manager Alex Cora has been given the keys to a baseball Cadillac.  His only directives …
RELATED:
Mark Dunphy / Boston Globe:
Here's an early look at the reheated Red Sox-Yankees rivalry
Maury Brown / Forbes:
Minor League Ballplayers Will Lose Minimum Wage Rights As Part Of $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill  —  As part of a provision within the 2,232 page $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill that President Trump needs to sign before Friday to keep the government open, the Boys of Summer in the Minor Leagues …
RELATED:
Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
Congress' 'Save America's Pastime Act' would allow teams to pay minor-leaguers less than minimum wage
Discussion: The Week
Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays acquire right-hander Sam Gaviglo from Royals  —  TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-hander Sam Gaviglo from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for a player to be named later or cash considerations.  —  Gaviglo, 27, posted 4-5 record and 4.36 earned-run average …
RELATED:
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Acquire Sam Gaviglio, Designate Matt Dermody
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.
RELATED:
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Brutal blow for Mariners' bullpen: David Phelps lost for the season with Tommy John surgery
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and Lookout Landing
Associated Press:
MLB: Chief Wahoo logo will not be allowed on new baseball Hall of Fame plaques  —  The baseball Hall of Fame says it no longer will use the Cleveland Indians' Chief Wahoo logo for plaques of new members.  —  In a statement, the Hall said that it “concurs with the commissioner's sentiment …
RELATED:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Notebook: Cobb wraps up deal with Orioles
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
In launch-angle era, Dee Gordon lonely at the singles party: ‘One of the last guys left’  —  SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs.  Recent history suggests otherwise.  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - Dee Gordon is aware …
Associated Press:
Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich boost Brewers with glove, bat  —  MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers' pitching could improve this year better because of two new bats in the lineup: Outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich are just as capable of changing games with their gloves, too.
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
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.
 
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 More News: 
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Daniel Murphy: 'It's reasonable to expect I won't be in the Opening Day lineup'
Rotoworld.com:
ST Daily: Murphy Not Ready
Kris Kaiser / Believeland Ball:
Today in Cleveland Indians History: Tragedy in Florida
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Rich Hammond / Orange County Register:
Sam Darnold might have cemented status as No. 1 pick with impressive Pro Day display
 Earlier Picks: 
Roger Mooney / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays nearing decision on Venters
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times:
2018 will let White Sox know where rebuild stands
Discussion: DRaysBay and South Side Sox
Daily Record:
Yankees option Tyler Austin to Class AAA Scranton as roster takes shape
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Associated Press:
Rays' catchers using wristbands amid rotation experiment
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Tamantha Ryan / Page Six:
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy accuses him of rape, physical abuse amid Diddy lawsuit drama — but he denies it

People:
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Announces Separation from Husband 3 Months After Prison Release

Jeff Conway / Forbes:
Olivia Colman Reflects On Her Beloved Career: ‘I Have Been Very Lucky’

 
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