‘I feel strong’: Yu Darvish says he's pain-free after an injury-plagued 2018 season  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Yu Darvish will report to spring training next month with the comfort of knowing his teammates.  —  More important, he's headed to Arizona with a healthy right elbow.

Free agent Dallas Keuchel wonders what it takes to get signed  —  With spring training approaching and top free agents remaining unsigned, it's been an another icy winter for baseball's hot stove.  —  Left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel is one of the best players still available and took …

Avisail Garcia gets 1-year deal from Rays for as much as $6 million  —  Avisail Garcia can earn up to $6 million as part of his one-year contract with the Rays.  —  The team announced the deal Friday, an agreement that guarantees $3.5 million this season.  —  He can earn $250,000 each …

Manny Machado's dad says his son isn't going to land where everyone thinks  —  Manny Machado's family members have a lot to say about where the prized free agent will end up.  —  First it was his wife, Yainee, who wants to live in New York City and has a strong hold over her husband's decision making …

Braves plan to hold Chop Fest, ‘rain or shine’  —  The Braves' annual Chop Fest fan event is still scheduled for Saturday at SunTrust Park.  A team representative said Friday that the event will take place “rain or shine.”  —  Many of the events are scheduled for indoors …

Is baseball heading toward a strike?  Scott Boras warns the ‘noncompetitive cancer’ is spreading around MLB  —  Baseball is getting sicker.  —  The symptoms have been presenting for a while: sagging attendance, a growing number of “rebuilding” teams, a disappearing middle class of veteran players …

Mike Clevinger: Indians' roster moves show front office smart, adaptive to change  —  Mike Clevinger is confident in the Cleveland Indians' roster moves because the front office is smart, adaptive to change.  —  CLEVELAND — For starting pitcher Mike Clevinger and his Cleveland Indians teammates …

With Guerrero at the helm, the young Blue Jays will have a lot of fun playing together, win or lose  —  The Blue Jays clubhouse in recent years hasn't always been the most pleasant place to be around.  Even when they were winning.  —  For every good guy there seemed to be as many prima donnas …

Starting?  Closing?  Searching for meaning in Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley's tweets  —  Diamondbacks Archie Bradley calls teachers to let them know they won $5,000  —  Will Archie Bradley be a starting pitcher next season or a closer?  —  Well, if you follow the Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher …

Longtime backup catcher Tony Cruz returns to Cardinals as minor-league instructor  —  ST. LOUIS  • True to their organization's goal of having one generation of players shape the next and so on, the Cardinals' list of managers and instructors for the minor-league system is dotted …

Baseball Hall of Fame countdown: Mariano Rivera could break voting record  —  USA TODAY Sports is counting down the top 10 candidates on the 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in advance of the Jan. 22 election results.  The countdown is based on voting by our power rankings panel, which includes five Hall voters.

Keith Hernandez's star was rising 40 years ago with Cardinals  —  St. Louis Cardinals batter Keith Hernandez watches his single drop in, driving in two runs in the sixth inning of Game 7 of World Series, Oct. 30, 1982 in St. Louis, Mo. The RBI tied the game for the Cards and set up the tie-breaking score.

Clint Frazier says he's ready to participate in Yankees spring training camp  —  NEW YORK — Clint Frazier is ready for spring training, a development he excitedly announced on Twitter.  —  Via his account Thursday, the Yankees' outfielder — who battled through a concussion …