Cardinals add power pitchers Helsley, Cabrera to roster, protecting them from Rule 5 draft  —  The decisions the Cardinals ended up making before Tuesday's deadline to set their roster had less to do with the roles a handful of prospects could play for them in the coming season than it did assuring …

Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey steps down, becoming the team's third coach who won't return  —  Chicago Tribune  —  An unsettling Cubs offseason became choppier Tuesday, when they confirmed that pitching coach Jim Hickey resigned after only one season for what he called personal reasons.

Manny Machado clarifies controversial ‘Johnny Hustle’ comment  —  After a tumultuous postseason, Manny Machado is doing his best to answer lingering questions that hang over his free agency.  —  Machado was criticized during the National League Championship Series for not running out a ground ball …

Rays DFA C.J. Cron after career-high 30 homers  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have designated C.J. Cron for assignment after the slugger hit 30 home runs with an .816 OPS last season.  —  Cron batted .253, slugged .493 and drove in 74 runs in his first season with Tampa Bay …

Yankees trading for James Paxton was no-brainer as price was right, but there are plenty of red flags  —  Before we get into why the Yankees' trade for Seattle ace James Paxton was really a no-brainer, it is at least worth acknowledging all the red flags with this deal that may ultimately render …

New Orioles GM Mike Elias brings former Astros analytics chief Sig Mejdal along to Baltimore  —  The Orioles next Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias meets with the media.  (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun video)  —  An Orioles analytics department that was previously marginalized …

Miami Marlins must deal J.T. Realmuto before it's too late  —  The Washington Nationals had some of the worst catching production in the big leagues last season, with players at that position combining for just a .209 average, 54 runs and 12 homers.  Among would-be contenders …

Orioles To Re-Sign Jace Peterson  —  The Orioles have reached a deal to bring back infielder Jace Peterson, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (via Twitter).  It's a minor-league deal, the other terms of which are not known.  He had elected free agency after being outrighted by the O's at the end of the 2018 campaign.

Padres, Mariners In Talks On Significant Potential Trade  —  4:57pm: A deal is “not thought to be close” right now, Rosenthal adds on Twitter, though the fact that players have been asked about their no-trade clauses still seems to indicate it's a serious possibility.

‘He gets it’: What Adrian Beltre meant to the Rangers, through the eyes of field reporter Emily Jones  —  Emily Jones, Texas Rangers reporter for FOX Sports Southwest, wrote this first-person essay for The Dallas Morning News:  —  It's hard to imagine a Rangers' clubhouse without Adrian Beltre in it.