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.

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 …

Alex Rodriguez says working for both Yankees and ESPN won't be a conflict  —  Despite his side gig as a Yankees special advisor, new ESPN Sunday Night Baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez said he will remain fair and balanced — and is available to Hal Steinbrenner “24/7.”

Phillies' Jake Arrieta pitches two innings in spring debut  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jake Arrieta arrived at the ballpark Thursday morning, five hours before his first start of spring training.  He had not pitched in a game since last October and the pitcher — who joined the Phillies last week …

Joe Maddon ecstatic over way players have bought into team-first mentality  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The only ingredients missing from Camp Maddon are a campfire and marshmallows.  —  “I've been around a lot of good spots,” Joe Maddon said Thursday as his 13th spring training as manager nears its end.

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.

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 …

Aaron Boone: No personal catchers for Yankees this season  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Joe Girardi never professed an affinity for pitchers having “personal” catchers, but there were times it worked out that way in his 10 years managing the Yankees.  —  Most recently, for example …

Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Diamondbacks right fielder Steven Souza Jr. has a strained right pec muscle, manager Torey Lovullo said, an injury that will keep him out of the lineup for “a couple of weeks, at least.”  —  Souza is expected to open the season on the disabled list, Lovullo said.

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 …

Roster comes into focus as Cincinnati Reds trim nine  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Reds roster really came into focus Thursday with a major cutdown.  —  Nine were sent out: Left-hander Oliver Perez was released.  Right-handers Robert Stephenson and Jackson Stephens were optioned to Triple …

Pirates enter 2018 with retooled roster, modest expectations  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Depending on the person asked in the clubhouse, the Pittsburgh Pirates are rebuilding.  Or they're not.  They're retooling.  Or they're not.  They're pointing toward 2019 and beyond.  Or they're focused on the here and now.

Disappointed Zack Wheeler may have cost himself rotation spot with Mets, who may put right-hander in bullpen  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Zack Wheeler sat in the Mets dugout, elbows on his knees and his head hung down.  Even if the right-hander wasn't pitching for his spot in the rotation …

Brewers' Boone Logan to start season on DL with triceps injury  —  PHOENIX — The Milwaukee Brewers say injured left-handers Boone Logan and Wade Miley won't be ready to pitch opening day.  —  Logan will start the season on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a left triceps strain, Milwaukee said Thursday.

Cubs' Kris Bryant enthused over encouraging signs he sees throughout lineup  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Kris Bryant was aware that he didn't hit his first spring home run until Wednesday, but the Cubs slugger's high walk total so far and the trust he has in those batting around him are what's so encouraging to him

Braves, A's, Mariners latest MLB teams to add express entrances  —  NEW YORK — Three more major league teams are emphasizing life in the fast line — for fans.  —  Atlanta, Oakland and Seattle will open express entrances to members of CLEAR, expanding the fast-entry lanes to eight of the 30 big league ballparks.