Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Newest Cardinals are rounding into top form — JUPITER, Fla. • When newly acquired Cardinals cleanup man Marcell Ozuna had started off four for 28 with 13 strikeouts this spring, manager Mike Matheny had surmised that Ozuna had been trying to hit the ball over the administration building …
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Motte may be headed to Memphis — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals probably will carry 13 pitchers this season, manager Mike Matheny confirmed Thursday. But one of those pitchers won't be Jason Motte, who was given his unconditional release on Thursday.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mikolas, Ozuna picking up steam for Cardinals
Mikolas, Ozuna picking up steam for Cardinals
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Benjamin Hochman / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matheny must get in playoffs, or get going
Matheny must get in playoffs, or get going
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
The rookie and the veteran: Can opposite ends of the MLB manager spectrum both succeed? — LAKELAND, Fla. — A leadership experiment of sorts is playing out in Florida, where two baseball managers separated by 15 years and 2,107 big league games are setting their rosters and lining up their pitching rotations in advance of Opening Day.
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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
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.
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Dan Caesar / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Media Views: Some Cards games move from TV to Facebook — Facebook finds its business being scorched in a firestorm of controversy amid recent revelations about the social media giant's network being compromised by entities that have tried to influence voters in the United States.
Associated Press:
MLB notebook: Outfielder Davis, 37, makes roster for Indians — Outfielder Davis, 37, makes roster for Indians — Rajai Davis made it all the way back with the Cleveland Indians. Mike Napoli remains on the outside. — Davis, who hit perhaps the most memorable home run in club history during …
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Matt Breen / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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 …
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
NL preview: Is this Bryce Harper's last run with the Nationals? — Rangers beat writer Gerry Fraley breaks down how he sees the National League divisions unfolding this season. — NL EAST — Washington goes into the season an urgent team. This could be the Nationals' last chance to win with outfielder Bryce Harper.
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Pat Grahamap / Pueblo Chiefton:
Rockies look to reel in playoff spot … DENVER — Charlie Blackmon didn't need much baiting: The lure of a fishing contest in the middle of spring training was incentive enough. — So the quirky Colorado Rockies outfielder/avid outdoorsman slipped into some waders and grabbed his fishing rod …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Michael Conforto hits for cycle one day ahead of Grapefruit League debut — Michael Conforto is making the Mets rethink their rehab plan with him. The All-Star outfielder will make his Grapefruit League debut Friday as the designated hitter, Mets' manager Mickey Callaway announced Thursday night.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants starter Jeff Samardzija has shoulder pain, getting MRI — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On the eve of breaking camp and going north, the Giants are dealing with a potentially serious setback in the one unit of the team that has the least experienced depth. — Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, McCovey Chronicles and MLB Baseball News …
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Greg Beacham / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Shohei Ohtani's arrival leads Angels into a fascinating year — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Shohei Show is about to begin for the — Los Angeles Angels. — Mike Trout might be the best player in baseball. — Albert Pujols is its most accomplished active slugger.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
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Big League Stew / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
AL West preview: Shohei Ohtani and the Angels are looking to dethrone the Astros
AL West preview: Shohei Ohtani and the Angels are looking to dethrone the Astros
Discussion:
Mercury News and Lookout Landing
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Don Mattingly is keeping up morale amid bleak situation with Marlins — JUPITER, Fla. — “I never went into a ballgame thinking I was gonna lose.” — This was Don Mattingly the other day at Roger Dean Stadium as he observed his stripped-down Miami Marlins — who are in fact going to lose …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Pedro Strop feels ‘great’ after first spring outing but waiting for Cubs' seal of approval — Chicago Tribune — It turns out manager Joe Maddon's knee — not Pedro Strop's calf — received more medical attention Thursday night. — Maddon was in obvious discomfort and had to leave …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon hoping his pink flamingos — Ron and Ernie — fetch a fair price for charity — Chicago Tribune — The pink flamingos that stand behind manager Joe Maddon at his daily media briefings were gone Thursday. — But they weren't missing, as “Ron” and “Ernie” …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
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.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
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.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Baseball Prospectus and MLB Trade Rumors
Will Graves / Associated Press:
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.
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
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 …
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox outfielder Ryan Cordell optioned to Triple-A Charlotte — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox optioned outfielder Ryan Cordell to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, one of four rosters moves announced in Glendale, Ariz. — Cordell, acquired from the Brewers last year in the Anthony Swarzak deal …
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Another big night for young Blue Jays Bichette and Guerrero — BRADENTON, Fla. — The kids are still all right — and continue to make a big-league impression in their first spring with the Jays. — Those who made their way south for a rare Grapefruit League game under …