Nationals' Scherzer, Astros' Verlander concerned about game  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two more aces are expressing concern about how major league teams are playing their cards.  —  Washington right-hander Max Scherzer said Thursday there are too many teams trying not to win, and all the rebuilding “poisons the game.”

Tommy ‘T-bone’ Giordano, longtime MLB scout and executive, dies at 93  —  Tommy Giordano, a longtime scout who played only 11 games in the major leagues but spent more than seven decades in a variety of baseball roles, died Thursday.  He was 93.  —  Known affectionately as “T-bone,” …

Padres GM met with Manny Machado  —  Manny Machado watches a single fall against the Red Sox during Game 3 of the World Series.  (Mark J. Terrill / AP)  —  Padres General Manager A.J. Preller flew to Miami to meet with Manny Machado and his wife at some point in the past week …

Jacob DeGrom not sure if Mets' offer will come before Opening Day  —  Just a few hours after NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom threw his first practice pitch of spring training, he let everyone know the score.  —  He hasn't received a long-term contract offer from the New York Mets and isn't sure he will before Opening Day.

Slimmer Cecil hopes to atone for bad year  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • To embattled Cardinals reliever Brett Cecil, the 2018 season “felt like a year-long stomping.  —  “It got to the point where I didn't even want to pitch because I didn't want to do bad,” said the 32-year-old lefthander.

Jose Urena named Marlins' Opening Day starter again  —  Jose Urena is getting a second chance for a first impression as the Miami Marlins' Opening Day starter, manager Don Mattingly announced Thursday.  —  “I know we put this off every year, because we didn't really know,” Mattingly told reporters.

GM Jeff Luhnow confirms Astros almost added Bryce Harper in 2018  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Bryce Harper is the biggest name in baseball right now, despite still being an unsigned free agent as spring training begins for the 2019 season.  —  Manny Machado, Dallas Keuchel, Marwin Gonzalez …

Trevor Bauer accuses Indians of ‘character assassination’ during arbitration hearing  —  All-Star pitcher Trevor Bauer won his salary arbitration hearing with the Cleveland Indians this week, getting a $7-million raise over last year, but said Thursday he's unhappy with the way he was treated toward the end of the process.

Joining the Royals a bit of a homecoming for pitcher Jake Diekman  —  Three Ps paved left-handed reliever Jake Diekman's path to the Royals bullpen.  That's proximity, power and Palmer.  —  The text messages began to flood Diekman's phone moments after his signing became official on Wednesday evening.

Detroit Tigers go high-tech to get better on the field.  Here's how:  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — In the nearly four years since Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila took over, it has been clear that the team is diving further into analytics.  —  The push began with hiring Jay Sartori …

Aaron Boone is ready to deploy his fully loaded bullpen  —  TAMPA — It's not the numbers.  When Yankee manager Aaron Boone looks at his fully-stocked bullpen, he is excited about the differences.  With a healthy Zack Britton back and Adam Ottavino signed this winter, the Yankees have so many ways …

Ian Clarkin reunites with his former unofficial draft adviser: Kris Bryant  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Friday marks the start of the Division I college baseball season, but left-hander Ian Clarkin has no regrets about not following in the footsteps of Kris Bryant at the University of San Diego.