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.

Luis Severino is glad he never heard ‘bad’ Yankees trash talk  —  TAMPA — The first thing Luis Severino's mother asked when she picked up the phone Friday night was if her son had won.  —  “No,” the Yankee ace told her, “but I got $40 million.”  —  At the last minute …

If Manny Machado signs with the White Sox, he instantly would become Chicago's best player, according to these rankings  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Javier Baez is the best Major League Baseball player in Chicago — for now.  —  The Cubs middle infielder, who finished second to the Brewers' Christian Yelich …

Ronald Acuna reiterates desire to stay at leadoff  —  Ronald Acuna reinvigorated the Braves from the leadoff spot last season.  On his first day of spring training Saturday, he doubled down on his desire to stay there.  —  Two weeks ago, Acuna told reporters he hoped to stay atop the lineup.

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 …

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.

CC Sabathia will let others talk up his Hall of Fame credentials, he just wants another World Series title  —  TAMPA - CC Sabathia has the finish line in sight.  The 38-year-old left-hander officially announced that the 2019 season will be his last.  A nagging knee issue …

Farhan Zaidi is reshaping Giants' future to resemble recent past  —  When the pitchers and catchers of the San Francisco Giants reported to camp a few days ago, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi assembled the group for a meeting.  —  During a decade with the Oakland Athletics …

Cards have numbers in LH relievers  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • There are five lefthanded relievers in Cardinals' camp who were in the majors last season, in addition to promising Genesis Cabrera, who came from Tampa Bay, and Fort Zumwalt South product Tommy Layne, who was in the Cardinals' system …

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 …

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 …

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.

Giants agree to deal with Cameron Maybin  —  The San Francisco Giants have reached a deal to bring 31-year-old free-agent outfielder Cameron Maybin to camp as a non-roster invitee, a source confirms to ESPN.  —  Maybin, a 12-year veteran, played last season with Miami and Seattle, where he hit .251 and .242, respectively.

No, the Braves aren't in talks with Craig Kimbrel  —  In the past two days, the rumor mill has run rampant with a Craig Kimbrel-Braves reunion.  It makes sense to a degree: A homecoming for a fan favorite who'd undoubtedly make the bullpen more formidable.  —  But the Braves and Kimbrel aren't engaged in conversations.