Cards' Yadier Molina takes exception to quips by Cubs' Kris Bryant  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals won't see each other until early May, but the heat has already been turned up on one of baseball's best rivalries.  —  Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant called St. Louis …

Yankees' frugality allowed them to build an unhittable bullpen.  Imagine what they could've done without Jacoby Ellsbury?  —  Now it can be told.  There was a reason the Yankees only tip-toed in the Manny Machado waters and expressed zero interest in Bryce Harper: Why spend $34 million …

5 things we heard from Cubs President Theo Epstein, including Joe Maddon's status  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Unlike past sessions, team President Theo Epstein sat alone as he answered questions for approximately 50 minutes Saturday at the baseball operations panel at Cubs Convention.

Braves fans bring high hopes to Chop Fest  —  Scattered showers and overcast skies couldn't dampen the mood Saturday as Braves fans welcomed the new season with vigor at Chop Fest at SunTrust Park.  —  The booming of the drums from Heavy Hitters, the Braves' drumline, filled the soggy air …

Mozeliak: Ozuna assures Cardinals he's healthy, Gregerson has setback  —  ST. LOUIS  • In a week, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak will head to the Dominican Republic to be present at a milestone for the organization.  —  He'll take a side trip to check on a difference-maker for the lineup.

Rays Tales: Why this roster may be set up just right  —  Rays are always tinkering, but what they have now may be what they want going forward.  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays are never truly “done.”  —  Team officials, from the numbers-crunching analysts all the way up to principal owner Stuart Sternberg …

Mariano Rivera, the humble son of a fisherman and the greatest closer in baseball history, set to join other Yankee legends in Cooperstown  —  Only a few months after he finished off the Yankees' 27th World Series title, by inducing a weak grounder to second from Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino …

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 …

Look at Padres' books shows debt reduction has team in position to spend  —  Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler (center) and General Partner Peter Seidler (right) walk on the field at Petco Park in 2013.  (UT San Diego /)  —  It was perhaps the least-sexy and heretofore least-heralded of any signing in Padres history.