Mikolas, Ozuna picking up steam for Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals' two biggest acquisitions of the off-season started slowly this spring.  And that was a generous adverb.  —  Miles Mikolas, signed to a two-year contract after pitching for three years in Japan …

40 years later, Ron Guidry recalls Yankees' magical 1978 season  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Asked about his memories of 40 years ago, Ron Guidry isn't just recalling the Yankees' storybook 1978 season.  —  He's up from his seat, reenacting whole scenes.  —  Talking about the Yankees' pivotal four …

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.

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 …

Baseball players in minors expected to lose minimum wage protection  —  Minor league baseball players who make as little as $5,500 a season would be stripped of the protection of federal minimum wage laws under a provision in government spending legislation expected to be approved by Congress this week.

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 …

Rafael Montero has torn UCL, will likely need Tommy John surgery  —  NEW YORK — Mets right-hander Rafael Montero probably will miss the season after tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow.  —  New York said Thursday that the 27-year-old has a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament and will likely need Tommy John surgery.

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 …

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Signs Contract With LA Galaxy Through 2019  —  Zlatan Ibrahimovic is leaving Manchester United for the LA Galaxy and could be in uniform for the club's first match against city rival LAFC.  —  SI.com has confirmed that superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed …

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.

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.

Indians To Add Rajai Davis To MLB Roster, Release Mike Napoli  —  Indians skipper Terry Francona ran through a laundry list of roster moves today, as MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports in a series of tweets.  Of particular note, the club intends to add outfielder Rajai Davis to the active roster …

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 …

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 …

Tigers vs. Phillies: Five ejected in spring training game  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Three players and two coaches were ejected in three separate incidents during a spring training game Thursday between the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies.  —  The total toss list included …

Forbes: GABP ranks 23rd of 30  —  Forbes.com ranked all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks from first to worst, and the Cincinnati Reds and their fans likely will respectfully disagree with the fact that you have to scroll down to find Great American Ball Park at No. 23 on the list …