Top News:
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Jacoby Ellsbury's deal is among the worst Yankees contracts ever — TAMPA, Fla. — Jacoby Ellsbury's turn in pinstripes has turned to farce, with another injury — a bout of plantar fasciitis this time — delaying his entry to Yankees camp until sometime in March.
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Eduardo A. Encina / Tampa Bay Times:
Don't count the Yankees out on Manny Machado, Bryce Harper until they sign elsewhere — There's no obvious fit for either in the Bronx, but the Yankees usually don't worry about fit. — TAMPA — The Yankees opened spring training Wednesday, and there was no sight of a red carpet being rolled out to welcome a new hired gun.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Why Yankees believe Gary Sanchez will rebound from ugly season — TAMPA — In a sign of how crucial his turnaround is to this coming season, Yankee manager Aaron Boone made the trek to Dominican Republic to meet with Gary Sanchez. It was a casual visit Boone felt was important to continue building …
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees' Aaron Boone expecting big things from Gary Sanchez
Yankees' Aaron Boone expecting big things from Gary Sanchez
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Shildt stokes the competition to earn a role on Cardinals' loaded pitching staff — Cardinals pitcher John Gant, (center) leads warmups and stretching with (left to right) Carlos Martinez, Ryan Helsley, Adam Wainwright and Jack Flaherty and others during the first official workout …
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Associated Press:
Adam Wainwright says he is healthy after rocky 2018 season — JUPITER, Fla. — Adam Wainwright stood in front of his customary corner locker following the St. Louis Cardinals' first workout and said he was healthy. — “Last year going into spring training, I was struggling,” the pitcher said Wednesday.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
No longer marooned on rehab, Cardinals rookie Alex Reyes takes the mound on Day 1
No longer marooned on rehab, Cardinals rookie Alex Reyes takes the mound on Day 1
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Dick Scanlon / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Matt Moore on new team, welcoming new baby this spring — LAKELAND, Fla. — Matt Moore's mind isn't just on spring training. — He traveled to Tampa, where his wife his due to give birth any day now, then returned to Lakeland for the Detroit Tigers' first workout.
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Meet the Detroit Tigers coach who gives spring training its structure — LAKELAND, Fla. — Joe Vavra is very disorganized right now, he says, probably the worst he's ever been. — He is sitting at a long oak table inside the Detroit Tigers' coaches conference room on Monday afternoon …
Chris Thomas / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' talent level hits 12-year high as rebuild continues — One trusted website believes the Detroit Tigers' farm system is as good as it has been in more than a decade. — And if that's the case, the Tigers' rebuild might not be as daunting as once expected.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers aren't thinking rebuild, they're thinking World Series
Detroit Tigers aren't thinking rebuild, they're thinking World Series
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Toronto Sun:
Bauer, Cole, Wood win in arbitration — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Trevor Bauer, Gerrit Cole and Alex Wood won their salary arbitration cases Wednesday, giving players a 6-3 advantage over teams to ensure a winning record in consecutive years for the first time since 1989-90.
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Bauer, Cole, Wood Win Arbitration Cases
Bauer, Cole, Wood Win Arbitration Cases
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Red Reporter
David Schoenfeld / ESPN:
Chris Sale sees room for improvement for Red Sox in '19: For him not to miss time due to injury — FORT MYERS, Fla. - The 2018 season ended with the Boston Red Sox celebrating their World Series title in a cramped clubhouse at Dodger Stadium and Chris Sale ordering the media out of the room …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Jeff Fletcher / Daily News:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani has no regrets about delaying Tommy John surgery last year — Ohtani learned he needed surgery in early September, but didn't have it done until Oct. 1 — TEMPE, Ariz. — As Shohei Ohtani prepares to miss the start of this season, he said he has no regrets about playing the end of last season.
Discussion:
Orange County Register
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Mark Fischer / Baltimore Sun:
Manny Machado already has a seat waiting for him in White Sox clubhouse — Manny Machado has been a free agent longer than he was a Dodger. — Now that you've gasped over that quivering bit — brought to you by The Ringer's Zack Kram — at least applaud one team in the hunt for keeping …
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Chicago Tribune
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Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Yu Darvish admits to feeling pressure with Cubs last year — MESA, Ariz. — Saying he's in a better place both mentally and physically this spring, Chicago Cubs righty Yu Darvish is looking to rebound after a season to forget in 2018. Poor performance gave way to an elbow injury last season, but he says that's all behind him now.
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Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs closer Brandon Morrow to miss beginning of season
Bob Brookover / The Charlotte Observer:
Gabe Kapler 2.0: More boundaries and more pressure for Phillies manager — It is way too late to say the honeymoon is over because that ended before Gabe Kapler managed his first game in Philadelphia. By the time he got to Citizens Bank Park following the Phillies' season-opening road trip …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
The Mets are hoping Jason Vargas can bounce back in 2019, recapture All-Star form — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jason Vargas doesn't have to worry about his job security. — Despite Vargas' rough 2018 season and the acquisition of several young starters the team likes, Vargas' spot in the rotation …
Associated Press:
Chicago Cubs, Sinclair to launch sports network in 2020 — CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group are launching a regional sports network in 2020 that will be the team's exclusive TV home. — The Cubs said Wednesday the Marquee Sports Network will carry live game broadcasts and pregame and postgame coverage.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and Chicago Tribune
Associated Press:
Even Pirates optimistic as spring training starts — BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Optimism always runs high on the first day of spring training, even for the Pittsburgh Pirates. — “This club has a feel that we can be a postseason team, that we can be a team that can advance deep in the postseason …