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4:00 PM ET, February 15, 2019

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 Top News: 
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Ex-Dodgers teammates laud Manny Machado's ‘awesome’ skill and offer varying takes on ‘Johnny Hustle’ comment  —  Photos of Manny Machado, one of the top free agents this season.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Dodgers and White Sox share a stadium at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix's west suburbs.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: If Manny Machado signs with the White Sox, he'll have to abide by the Renteria Rule  —  Photos of the White Sox at spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., before the 2019 season.  —  Chicago Tribune … Rest assured the Sox won't be sending a message like that to Machado …
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
The Bryce, Manny stalemate and the latest on MLB free agency  —  The broken record of Manny Machado and Bryce Harper's free agency took another spin on the turntable Thursday.  First, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Padres general manager A.J. Preller had flown to Miami to meet with Machado.
Discussion: NESN.com
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Julio Urias, though no longer ‘The Teenager,’ remains important to Dodgers' future … Clayton Kershaw wanted an unobstructed view, so he marched over to join a group clustered near home plate, a few feet away from the catcher Thursday at Camelback Ranch.  At the other end …
Discussion: DodgerBlue.com
Associated Press:   Baseball notebook: Cubs sign lefty reliever Cedeno
ESPN:   Sources: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres meet for second time
Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:   Manny Machado met with the Padres last week
Associated Press:
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,” …
RELATED:
Daily Record:   Celebrating the wonderful life of MLB scout Tom Giordano
Paul Newberrry / Daily Record:   New Jersey native Tommy Giordano, longtime baseball scout, dies at 93
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
How Dodgers' clubhouse embodies baseball's free agency concerns  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — A.J. Pollock ventured into the free-agent market with no expectations.  —  What he experienced, as time went on, alarmed him nonetheless.  —  “It was kind of a weird process, something I've never gone through before,” he said.
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
Why Aaron Nola's extension is drawing criticism from rival agents
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies figure to benefit from Rhys Hoskins' return to first base | Extra Innings
Discussion: Philly.com
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Aaron Nola's contract extension with Phillies could be sign of new MLB free-agency patterns
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Chocked roster could lead Cardinals to make moves, explore trades later in spring
Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Tipsheet: Scherzer says fans should demand more from baseball owners
Discussion: Federal Baseball
ESPN:
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.
RELATED:
Brodie Van Wagenen / Daily Record:   Jacob deGrom still waiting on contract extension as Brodie Van Wagenen, Mets evaluate deal
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:   Jacob deGrom won't rule out innings limit if Mets don't offer contract extension
Chuck King / Associated Press:
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.”
RELATED:
Brian T. Smith / Houston Chronicle:
Expiring contracts of Verlander, Cole hover over Astros' future
Discussion: Houston Chronicle
Stephen Ruiz / Orlando Sentinel:
Coming off division title, Atlanta Braves arrive for final spring training at Disney  —  Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna was selected as the 2018 National League Rookie of the Year.  (John Bazemore/Associated Press)  —  The Atlanta Braves are back.  —  But not for long.
Discussion: Talking Chop
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
First-day impressions from Braves spring training  —  Much of the Braves' spring intrigue is centered on pitching, where a competition for the remaining rotation spot and a spot in the bullpen takes center stage.  —  That competition formally began Friday, when pitchers and catchers reported to camp in Central Florida.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs players of all ages are embracing advanced technology and analytics: 'They're willing to dig in'  —  Cubs pitchers Mike Montgomery and Brad Brach discuss their roles this season at spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Updates from Cubs spring training: Newcomer Brad Brach shares ‘stressful’ free-agent experience, life with Manny Machado
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
ESPN:
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.
Associated Press:
Tigers beat Michael Fulmer in final arbitration case; players win 6-4  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers beat pitcher Michael Fulmer on Friday in the final salary arbitration case this year, leaving players with a 6-4 final record in decisions.  —  Fulmer was awarded a raise …
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds went with quantity when looking for pitchers to create a quality rotation  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cincinnati Reds bolstered their starting rotation this offseason and they went with the quantity approach.  Rather than add one guy who was clearly the No. 1 starter …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
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 …
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Terry Francona: 'I'm betting on the under' for Francisco Lindor's return to Indians  —  Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona would not be surprised to see All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor return quicker than expected from a right calf strain.  —  CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians manager …
 
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 More News: 
Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Arbitration off: Yankees, Severino reach deal
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and NBCSports.com
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Joining the Royals a bit of a homecoming for pitcher Jake Diekman
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone is ready to deploy his fully loaded bullpen
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Clarkin reunites with his former unofficial draft adviser: Kris Bryant
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
A more flexible Dan Altavilla is ready to take a permanent spot in the Mariners' retooled bullpen
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Updates from White Sox spring training: Lefties Aaron Bummer and Caleb Frare don't fear MLB's 3-batter minimum proposal
 Earlier Picks: 
William Weinbaum / ESPN:
Danny Farquhar wears protective cap after brain surgery
Discussion: Uni Watch
Eduardo A. Encina / Tampa Bay Times:
Slugger C.J. Cron says he didn't see Rays' move to DFA him coming, 'but I wasn't shocked either'
Scott Chiusano / New York Daily News:
Matt Harvey, notorious pain in Mets' butt, already sidelined with pain in the butt
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Robbie Ray could be pivotal force in Diamondbacks' future
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
50 Cent Is ‘Going for Sole Custody’ of His Son With Daphne Joy After She Was Named in Diddy Lawsuit (Exclusive)

Jeff Conway / Forbes:
Olivia Colman Reflects On Her Beloved Career: ‘I Have Been Very Lucky’

People:
Rebel Wilson Says She ‘Got More Attention for Weight Loss Than Any Movie’ She'd Ever Done: ‘People Are Intrigued’ (Exclusive)

 
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