Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Trevor Bauer's radical idea on MLB contracts could benefit everyone — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — In one swoop Thursday morning, Trevor Bauer made the Cleveland Indians cringe, the unemployed free-agent class think and the players' union listen. — In addition to airing his grievances …
Discussion:
Plain Dealer
RELATED:
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.”
Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times:
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.
Discussion:
USA Today and Sporting News
Eddie Matz / ESPN:
Nationals' Max Scherzer says win-loss cycle creates bandwagon fans
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Sporting News
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Trevor Bauer: I have no ill will toward Indians after arbitration process
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Trevor Bauer accuses Cleveland Indians of ‘character assassination’ during arbitration hearing
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Deadspin and baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
Sources: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres meet for second time — San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller flew to Miami last week and met with free-agent infielder Manny Machado, sources confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan. — It's the second meeting the Padres and Machado have had this offseason …
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Cubs sign lefty reliever Cedeno — Lefthanded reliever Xavier Cedeno and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a $900.000, one-year contract. — The deal is not guaranteed, meaning Cedeno could be released for termination pay before opening day.
Kevin Acee / sandiegouniontribune.com:
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 …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, New York Post and MLB Trade Rumors
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:
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
They don't make Cy Youngs like they used to ... Jacob deGrom's plaque already in for repairs
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom stumbles through his answer as Mets ace is quizzed about a self-imposed innings limit …
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Jacob deGrom's Cy Young award was damaged and the Mets are sending it back
Discussion:
New York Times
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:
Paul Newberrry / Daily Record:
New Jersey native Tommy Giordano, longtime baseball scout, dies at 93 — Editor's note: The video above was filmed last summer, July 2018, for a story by NorthJersey.com and The Record Yankees beat writer, Pete Caldera. The link to that story is below: — Caldera: New Jersey's Tom Giordano …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Dellin Betances late getting to Yankees spring training after his wife gives birth — TAMPA, Fla. - New father Dellin Betances wasn't present for the Yankees first pitchers and catchers workout on Thursday, following the birth of his son. — Janisa and Dellin Betances welcomed Dellin Jr …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Carl Edwards Jr. pauses for effect, and Joe Maddon approves — Chicago Tribune — Cubs manager Joe Maddon was delighted by the simple fact that reliever Carl Edwards Jr. showed the initiative to cure his occasional bouts of wildness. — “Normally when a player is able to arrive at his own conclusions …
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Tyler Chatwood believes he'll be better for the Cubs in 2019, thanks to correcting a mechanical flaw
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
5 takeaways from Cubs spring training, including reactions to a last-place projection …
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Angry over Cubs' Sinclair TV plan? Be thankful for The Score's Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Chocked roster could lead Cardinals to make moves, explore trades later in spring — JUPITER, Fla. • While the Cardinals have adopted and repeated a stance that they do not intend to add to their 40-man roster in the opening weeks of spring training, the inevitable question facing the front office will be who to subtract.
RELATED:
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.
Scott Chiusano / New York Daily News:
Matt Harvey, notorious pain in Mets' butt, already sidelined with pain in the butt — Even on the opposite coast, Matt Harvey's still a pain in the butt. — The former Dark Knight turned Flushing pariah is having a rough start to his Angels career, suffering a glute injury during agility drills …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
After getting big deal, Aaron Nola ready to chase titles with Phillies — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Aaron Nola hopes to win titles with the Philadelphia Phillies, and a four-year, $45 million contract will give him a chance. — “This is pretty surreal and special for me,” the pitcher said Thursday, a day after agreeing to the deal.
Discussion:
ESPN
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 …
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
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Robbie Ray could be pivotal force in Diamondbacks' future — Left-hander Robbie Ray's tenure with the Diamondbacks has offered little in the way of consistency, his performance fluctuating from year to year, even outing to outing. He sometimes can seem just as likely to throttle …
David Wellham / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves refresher course: A care package on eve of spring training — The long wait is almost over. — The last we saw the Braves play Oct. 8, when their National League Division Series against the Dodgers ended with a loss in Game 4. — When pitchers and catchers report to Champion Stadium …
