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.

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,” …

Tipsheet: Scherzer says fans should demand more from baseball owners  —  Our Town's Max Scherzer appreciates how the Washington Nationals try to contend every year.  —  The Cardinals also refuse to go the tank-and-rebuild route.  Given credit to the Los Angeles Dodgers, too, for staying in the hunt year after year.

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.

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.

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)

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.

Roberto Osuna to close for Houston Astros this season  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Roberto Osuna will close for the Houston Astros.  —  “I can pretend and create some false competition, and that doesn't gain any credibility,” manager A.J. Hinch said.  “Transparency goes a long way, and maybe the closer question can be put to rest.”

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 …

'We didn't sign you to be Adrian Beltre.' Here's why Rangers did sign Asdrubal Cabrera  —  Everyone knows who Asdrubal Cabrera is replacing at third base this season for the Texas Rangers.  —  No, it's not Jurickson Profar.  —  It's the guy who retired in November as one of the greatest third baseman in baseball history.

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.

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 …

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 …