Top News:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Miguel Andujar impresses Yankees with how he attacked his defensive flaws during the offseason — TAMPA - After a season that had him as one of the finalists for the American League Rookie of the Year, Miguel Andujar had to spend the winter listening to everyone debate if he should start at third base this season.
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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
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.
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.
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 …
James Wagner / Boston Globe:
Yankees enter spring training with a bitter taste and high expectations
David Schoenfeld / ESPN:
Chris Sale sees room for improvement for Red Sox in '19: For him not to miss time due to injury
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, Over the Monster, Dan Shaughnessy Watch, NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees' Aaron Boone can't get Manny Machado, Bryce Harper off his mind
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees' Aaron Boone expecting big things from Gary Sanchez
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers spring training: Who are these fresh-faced pitchers? — LAKELAND, Fla. — The first thing you noticed when walking into the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse at Joker Marchant Stadium on Wednesday was a sign displaying the team's intentions to win the World Series
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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
Dick Scanlon / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Matt Moore on new team, welcoming new baby this spring
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers aren't thinking rebuild, they're thinking World Series
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
McGee's coaching duties are different this season — • Fan favorite Willie McGee has returned for his second year as a Cardinals coach. McGee said he very much enjoyed the first year, but he will have adjusted duties this season. — In 2018, McGee was something of a hybrid coach …
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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:
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 …
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Twins, Jorge Polanco finalizing seven-year extension — Shortstop Jorge Polanco and the Minnesota Twins are finalizing a contract extension that will cover seven years and guarantee around $25 million, a league source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN on Thursday.
Discussion:
Star Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Youth might be served with 2019 Rangers, but back of bullpen is full of 30-somethings — A misconception that potentially is bogging down the Texas Rangers' win-loss predictions by various baseball sources and at various sports books is that they are going to be young.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Lone Star Ball
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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 …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
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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 …
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.
RELATED:
Courier-Journal:
Brewers trying to keep rival Cubs fans out of Miller Park again — The Milwaukee Brewers have made it clear: They would prefer the least amount of Chicago Cubs fans to fill Miller Park as possible. — In a statement released Wednesday, the Brewers announced presale tickets for their 10 home dates …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Projecting Indians bullpen as pitchers and catchers go through first Spring Training workout — Here is a projection for what the Cleveland Indians' bullpen will look like on opening day of the 2019 season. — CLEVELAND — For the Cleveland Indians, it is time to get down to the business of baseball.
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves preview: Pitching plentiful, but how will it all fit together? — The Braves' best years, and one of the best runs in sports history, were built on pitching. There isn't a Greg Maddux or John Smoltz in this present group, but the organization's lifeblood remains the same: It begins and ends with pitching depth.
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
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.
RELATED:
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Andrew Friedman says Dodgers have chance to be ‘an elite team’ — GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Dodgers are projected to win 90-plus games and a division title for a seventh consecutive season, yet the prevailing narrative surrounding them has focused mostly on the moves they failed to make over the winter.
