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3:15 PM ET, February 16, 2019

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Wallace Matthews / The Charlotte Observer:
The ghost of Matt Harvey looms over Jacob deGrom contract talks  —  The bond between Jacob deGrom and Brodie Van Wagenen was expected to be the glue that held the Mets pitching staff together.  —  But that bond is changing rapidly, and may end up being the wedge that drives them apart.
RELATED:
Bob Raissman / New York Daily News:   Would Jacob deGrom tarnish his good-guy image by boycotting the media?
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:   Mickey Callaway is not the only NL East manager who'll be under the microscope
Mike Puma / New York Post:   Yoenis Cespedes walking without pain, wants to return to Mets this season
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees GM Brian Cashman with a big tease at spring camp: 'We're never a finished product'  —  TAMPA - With the team he put together scheduled to all be here in less than 48 hours, Brian Cashman admitted his job is not done.  —  While the Yankees GM would not specifically discuss Bryce Harper …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Severino gets big deal with Yankees  —  Righthander Luis Severino avoided an arbitration hearing with the New York Yankees, agreeing Friday to a $40 million, four-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Yankees sign Luis Severino to multiyear extension
James Wagner / New York Times:   Luis Severino Agrees to 4-Year Deal as Yankees Try to Lock Up Young Core
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Dustin Pedroia determined as ever to contribute for Red Sox  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The first thing you need to know about Dustin Pedroia's left knee is that it will never be 100 percent again.  —  “It ain't even my knee.  It's somebody else's, bro,” the Red Sox second baseman said Friday …
RELATED:
Chris Nelsen / Detroit Free Press:
Ex-Detroit Tiger Justin Verlander wants to pitch until he's 45.  Here's his plan  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former Michigan quarterback Tom Brady continues to defy logic, winning his sixth Super Bowl title with the New England Patriots earlier this month at the ripe old age of 41.
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Meet Zac Houston: The ‘funky’ throwing Detroit Tigers pitcher vying for a bullpen spot  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Zac Houston can't really describe his pitching mechanics.  —  When he tries, he just keeps coming back to “weird” and “funky” and “it's just a lot.”
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Chris Carpenter is a very special assistant for the Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The Cardinals' Mike Maddux is among the most respected pitching coaches in major league baseball, and former Cardinal Chris Carpenter was one of its most respected pitchers until he retired some six years ago.
Discussion: Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
With everything ‘simplified,’ Fowler reports to spring on an upswing  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • One way the weight of last season has been lifted from Dexter Fowler is the word he used Friday afternoon to describe his swing, though it could just as easily apply to his position, his spot in the lineup …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   No regrets: Jose Martinez bids farewell to first baseman's glove
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Drew Storen joins Kansas City Royals on minor-league contract  —  Billy Hamilton, Homer Bailey and now Drew Storen.  —  The relief pitcher who last pitched in Major League Baseball in 2017 for the Cincinnati Reds - before undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss all of last season …
Discussion: Royals Review
RELATED:
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:   Royals, veteran pitcher Homer Bailey have placed a low-risk bet on each other
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:   Homer Bailey: 'When you put up a 6 (ERA) ... you're not going to be wearing pinstripes'
ESPN:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shows up early, rakes in BP  —  After showing up a day early to spring training, the Toronto Blue Jays' top prospect couldn't help but make a splash.  Expectations for the son of Hall of Fame outfielder Vladimir Guerrero were already set high before Vladdy Jr. hit …
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Freddie Freeman arrives early to camp  —  It should come as no surprise Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was among the early arrivals to spring training.  —  Position players aren't required to arrive until Wednesday, but Freeman arrived Friday and held his first media assembly Saturday morning.
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:   Acuna arrives early for spring training
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Andrus arrives to Rangers camp with Beltre update.  Is he regretting decision to retire?  —  The music started blaring Saturday morning in the Texas Rangers' clubhouse just as the beat reporters entered, confirming that Elvis Andrus had reported to spring training.
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
'We didn't sign you to be Adrian Beltre.' Here's why Rangers did sign Asdrubal Cabrera
Associated Press:
Phillies still sizing up Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, other free agents  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — With spring training underway, Philadelphia Phillies president Andy MacPhail is certain his team is built to win right now.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS  —  As for adding someone like outfielder Bryce Harper …
Discussion: ESPN and NESN.com
RELATED:
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
As Giants wait on Bryce Harper, Farhan Zaidi wants to avoid ‘reality show’
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees' CC Sabathia to retire after 2019 season  —  TAMPA, Fla. — CC Sabathia, the husky left-hander who is entering his 19th major league season, formally announced Saturday that he'll be calling it quits at the end of 2019.  —  “I just wanted to make this announcement that 2019 is my final season …
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs reliever Junichi Tazawa expected to arrive Monday  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Free-agent reliever Junichi Tazawa is expected to arrive Monday at the Cubs' spring training camp.  —  Tazawa, who signed a minor league contract two weeks ago, has been delayed by visa issues in his native Japan.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Loss of DJ LeMahieu, CarGo means the Rockies will need to find new leaders in 2019  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Leadership, clubhouse chemistry and a team's mental toughness are difficult to define and even harder to measure.  —  Nonetheless, I believe that developing those traits …
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
 
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 More News: 
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
No, the Braves aren't in talks with Craig Kimbrel
Bill James Online:
On Collusion  —  One thing that baseball fans under the age …
Discussion: Beyond the Box Score
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Catchers: Eager Yasmani Grandal went right to work after surprising deal with the Brewers
Discussion: Press Gazette Media
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Sign Jay Jackson
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Addison Russell and the Cubs are under the microscope for all the wrong reasons
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Steven Souza says he's finally healthy after injury-wrecked season
 Earlier Picks: 
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dodgers SS Corey Seager looking to leave difficult season in the past
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
What has Miller feeling like ‘normal baseball player’ again early in Rangers camp?
Associated Press:
Scott Servais: ‘Overzealous’ offseason behind Mallex Smith's sore shoulder
Associated Press:
Roberto Osuna to close for Houston Astros this season
Associated Press:
Tigers beat Michael Fulmer in final arbitration case; players win 6-4
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: If Manny Machado signs with the White Sox, he'll have to abide by the Renteria Rule
 

 
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Heidi Parker / Daily Mail:
Jennifer Aniston, 55, and Sandra Bullock, 59, are seen leaving a plastic surgery office in Connecticut that is known for facelifts and rhinoplasty

 
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