2019 Cincinnati Reds questions: Which version of Yasiel Puig will show up this season?  —  Editor's note: With Spring Training approaching, we'll answer an important question about the Cincinnati Reds each day until pitchers and catchers report Feb. 12.  Today's question: Which version of Yasiel Puig will the Reds get?

'Don't run from the fire.  Run toward it': Inside Clint Frazier's long, rockin' road to recovery  —  MARIETTA, Ga. — Clint Frazier's ears have been ringing a lot lately.  —  In recent months, they've been bombarded with booming bass beats, decibel-deafening melodies and sudden, piercing shrieks from excited music fans.

The broken winter: Why baseball must fix free agency ASAP  —  On this, the 97th day of free agency, four days before the first pitchers and catchers report to spring training, less than six weeks ahead of Major League Baseball opening its regular season, the two best free agents in more than a decade remain unemployed.

Are Braves favorites in competitive NL East?  —  BY GABRIEL BURNS THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION  —  The more I look at it, the more I'm convinced there isn't a more competitive division top-to-bottom than the National League East.  That isn't exactly a hot take, but a week away from spring training …

Phillies, Marlins Working Out Details Of Prospective J.T. Realmuto Swap  —  Reports emerged this morning that momentum was growing between the Phillies and Marlins on a deal to send star catcher J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia.  Now, it seems, the sides have made yet further strides …

Arizona Diamondbacks 2019 promotional schedule: Haboob Globe highlights special giveaways  —  Sometimes its hard deciding which baseball games to attend.  —  Each MLB team does have 81 home games in a season.  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks have helped make the task easier for 2019 with the release of their promotional schedule.

After 1968's ‘Year of the Pitcher,’ MLB lowered the mound.  Now, the league could do it again.  —  The Washington Post  —  During Bob Gibson's record-setting 1968 season, he hung a sign above his locker that read, “Here comes the judge.”  He felt untouchable, he said.

MLB considering drastic rule changes that could speed up games and create universal DH  —  The Washington Post  —  Major League Baseball and its union have had substantive discussions in recent days over a series of proposals, among the most drastic proposed changes in years …

It's ‘Zack’ Britton, not Zach: New York Yankees reliever clarifies name spelling  —  It's Zack Britton, not Zach.  Big difference.  Or is there?  —  In a tweet sent out Thursday, the New York Yankees reliever put to rest one of the burning offseason questions: Is it spelled Zack or Zach?

Cubs have struck out with homegrown pitchers in recent years, but they're working to change that  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Dylan Cease didn't advance very far in the Cubs organization before they traded him to the White Sox.  But he hasn't forgotten the special care the Cubs gave …

After injury-devastated season, Dustin Pedroia plots his comeback for Red Sox  —  CHANDLER, Ariz. — Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, sitting on the weight bench in the gym of his palatial home, is restless, rubbing his hands together, chugging another bottled water …

Junichi Tazawa, Chicago Cubs reach agreement on minor league deal  —  CHICAGO — Reliever Junichi Tazawa has finalized a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs and will report to big league spring training.  —  If added to the 40-man roster, Tazawa would receive a one-year contract paying $800,000 while in the major leagues.

Mazara gives health a thumb's up.  But another change could help fuel his 2019 for Rangers  —  An injured thumb can wreck a season, as Nomar Mazara discovered in 2018.  —  His right thumb was damaged just before the All-Star break, while making a play in right field at Camden Yards.

‘EVERYBODY LOVES HIM’: New Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo brings passion, personality to rebuilding team  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — You are about to know him as an energetic man with a quick smile and even quicker wit, a baseball lifer committed to mining the best out of those who surround him.