Top News:
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge batting leadoff Friday vs. Red Sox — TAMPA, Fla. — For at least one day, the New York Yankees have a new leadoff hitter: Aaron Judge. — The right fielder will bat first on Friday against the Boston Red Sox in a batting position that's normally occupied …
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Success hasn't turned Cubs from lovable to unlikable ... yet — Chicago Tribune — The parade has been over for 17 months now, but the legacy of the Cubs' championship season remains untouched as they prepare for the 2018 campaign. — The 13 remaining survivors of the '16 World Series roster …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Judge as the Yankees leadoff hitter? The experiment begins today — TAMPA, Fla. - And now, batting first for the Yankees, No. 99, Aaron Judge. — Six days away from the season opener at Toronto, Yankees manager Aaron Boone has decided it's time to try his experiment …
Jake Becker / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge hitting leadoff for Yankees vs. Red Sox lefty starter Brian Johnson — Aaron Boone will get his first look at Yankees leadoff hitter Aaron Judge on Friday. — Judge will be the first batter up for the Bombers in their afternoon spring training game against the Red Sox and lefty starter Brian Johnson in Tampa.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets season predictions: Strong season for pitchers, new homes for some position players — Coming off a disappointing 70-92 season, the Mets are hoping they will rebound in 2018 and make the playoffs for the third time in four years. — A new manager is in place in Mickey Callaway …
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Michael Conforto hits for cycle one day ahead of Grapefruit League debut
Michael Conforto hits for cycle one day ahead of Grapefruit League debut
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets have tough decision to make with Zack Wheeler
Mets have tough decision to make with Zack Wheeler
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
SEE IT: Umpire ejects three players, manager and bench coach in Tigers-Phillies spring training game — Somebody forgot to tell this umpire it's still spring training. — Umpire Tom Hallion had a field day with ejections Thursday afternoon, throwing five people out of a spring training game between the Tigers-Phillies.
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George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Christin Stewart making his case for playing time with Detroit Tigers — The left-handed hitting prospect had 3 more hits Thursday vs. the Phillies in spring training, raising his Grapefruit League average to .700 — CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers' front office decided it wasn't Christin Stewart's time this spring.
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Miguel Cabrera homers off Jake Arrieta as Detroit Tigers top Phillies, 6-2
Miguel Cabrera homers off Jake Arrieta as Detroit Tigers top Phillies, 6-2
Discussion:
The Good Phight and MLB Baseball 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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Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Marcell Ozuna's big move: From Marlins anonymity to Cardinals catalyst — JUPITER, Fla. - Marcell Ozuna didn't want to leave Miami. He didn't see the trade coming. When first told he was going to St. Louis, the All-Star outfielder thought somebody was pulling a prank on him.
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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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Sit back, relax and watch 'em grow: White Sox's rebuild ahead of schedule — Chicago Tribune — Every rebuild has its honeymoon period, and the White Sox currently are in the midst of theirs. — For the time being, few fans venturing out to Sox Park are going to complain …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
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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
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, Bleacher Nation, McCovey Chronicles and MLB Baseball News …
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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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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 …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Big League Stew / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
AL West preview: Shohei Ohtani and the Angels are looking to dethrone the Astros — Editor's note: From now until opening day, the Yahoo Sports MLB crew is previewing the season ahead. Today, we continue our division-by-division previews with a look at the AL West. — Dynasties are awesome.
Discussion:
Mercury News and Lookout Landing
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Greg Beacham / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Shohei Ohtani's arrival leads Angels into a fascinating year
Shohei Ohtani's arrival leads Angels into a fascinating year
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
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 …
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
The Rangers offseason starting pitching acquisitions have given up 18 runs in the last three days — SURPRISE, Ariz. - With Mike Minor's outing Thursday, the Rangers' trio of offseason rotation acquisitions completed their final Arizona assignments. — Here is how that went …