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3:00 PM ET, February 18, 2019

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Tom Ricketts / Associated Press:
Cubs patriarch's very offensive emails lead to son's team apology  —  MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts apologized to the team's players and coaching staff at spring training for any distraction caused by offensive racist emails written by his father.
Discussion: Deadspin
RELATED:
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Cubs' rash of off-field controversies could give team the motivation it needs
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune:   5 takeaways from Cubs and White Sox spring training
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Cubs' week ahead includes Tom Ricketts' annual speech, labor talk and the Cactus League opener
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Padres make big offer to free agent Manny Machado  —  MESA, Ariz. — Manny Machado, one of the biggest prizes on the free agent market, has finally received a contract proposal that may suit his demands.  —  The San Diego Padres submitted an eight-year offer to Machado worth between $240 million …
RELATED:
Chicago Tribune:
Padres offer Manny Machado an 8-year deal worth at least $240 million: reports  —  Look out, White Sox.  It appears the Padres are serious about signing free-agent infielder Manny Machado.  —  The Padres have offered Machado an eight-year contract worth at least $240 million, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
How David Robertson negotiated his own contract with Phillies during a never-ending free-agent winter
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Monday in Cards camp: Cecil has trouble throwing strikes, but he was sick  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Lefthander Brett Cecil was the first Cardinals' pitcher to face hitters Monday.  He didn't throw many strikes, perhaps two out of 15 or so pitches in his stint, but he became ill while he was warming …
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   J. Martinez, Gyorko would be hard to leave off Cardinals
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Focus on Goldschmidt and Field 2 for the Cardinals' first day of full-scale drills
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
'There's no more excuses.' Four core Rangers players are ready to grow up in 2019  —  These are perilous times for the Texas Rangers, who are trying to produce young talent that can lift the franchise back to where it was the last time it went through a rebuilding phase.
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Ben Revere in Rangers camp with Triple-A deal
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:   The Rangers are now Elvis' team. He is one of five position players to watch this spring
Associated Press:
Rob Manfred says pitching clock will be introduced in spring training and brushes off players' free agency gripes  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Major League Baseball is unilaterally starting the use of pitch clocks for spring training games, while brushing off complaints from players about the slow free agent market.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Pitch clock is coming to Grapefruit games, says Manfred; ‘negativity’ an issue
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
Rob Manfred Says Baseball Doesn't Have a Free Agency Crisis
Bill Baer / NBCSports.com:
Rob Manfred blames Bryce Harper for going unsigned
Discussion: Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Source says Moustakas, Brewers nearing a deal  —  Source: Moustakas, Brewers nearing a deal  —  Mike Moustakas and the Brewers are nearing a deal that would keep the third baseman in Milwaukee for a guarantee of $10 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Noah Syndergaard ready to listen if NY Mets want to make a deal  —  Brodie Van Wagenen on the Mets' depth  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — If the New York Mets want to talk, Noah Syndergaard will listen.  —  Syndergaard, 26, is one of the sport's top young pitchers and under contract through 2021.
RELATED:
Randy Miller / New Jersey Online:
Yankees' Luis Severino miffed over Jacob deGrom's innings-limit threat: 'He's making $17 million!'  —  TAMPA — Yankees right-hander Luis Severino drove from Tampa to St. Petersburg on Friday morning for a scheduled salary-arbitration hearing that was supposed to determine whether his 2019 salary would be $5.25 million or $4.4 million.
Discussion: Fox News, SNY and The Sports Daily
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Kris Bryant happy to clear the air with Yadier Molina over comments about St. Louis  —  MESA, Ari.  — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said he's more than happy to clear the air with Yadier Molina after offseason comments made by Bryant about the city of St. Louis raised the ire of the Cardinals' All-Star catcher.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Kris Bryant says his ‘St. Louis is so boring’ comment was taken out of context
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Pivotal Yankees questions linger as Aaron Judge and Co. report to camp  —  TAMPA — Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Didi Gregorius and the rest of the Yankees position players are required to report to camp for physicals Monday.  Most will make a simple two, city-block move from the minor league complex …
RELATED:
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:   ‘One of those days you look forward to,’ Aaron Boone says as Yankees players report
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer: No hard feelings after arbitration loss  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — It's been a whirlwind of a week for Michael Fulmer.  —  Last Wednesday, he attended his salary arbitration hearing against the Detroit Tigers in St. Petersburg.  On Friday, he traveled back to Oklahoma …
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:   Tigers spring training letters: Dreaming of a visit with J.D. Martinez
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets add shortstop option in glove-first veteran Adeiny Hechavarria  —  Brodie Van Wagenen on the Mets' depth  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Lacking a proven backup shortstop, the Mets have agreed to terms on a minors deal with veteran Adeiny Hechavarria, a source confirmed.
RELATED:
ESPN:   Adeiny Hechavarria agrees to minor league deal with Mets, per reports
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dodgers' Kenley Jansen hoping higher spin rate will help him sizzle  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kenley Jansen wore a wide smile in the moments following this past Friday's workout.  The Rapsodo tracking devices and high-speed cameras set up throughout the bullpens of the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring …
Associated Press:
Reds' Joey Votto tries to rebound from subpar season  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Joey Votto has spent the offseason trying to make sure he doesn't have another subpar season.  —  The Cincinnati Reds star led the National League in on-base percentage last year but hit just 12 homers …
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner says Boston, Chris Sale have discussed contract extension  —  Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner says Boston,  —  Chris Sale have discussed contract extension originally appeared on  —  Chris Sale's 2018 season was everything the Red Sox hoped for, and more.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
No Manny Machado, no problem: Dellin Betances trusts the Yankees plan  —  TAMPA — The hard feelings are gone.  —  Dellin Betances arrived at camp — for what could be his final season with the Yankees — focused on the future.  The reliever, who arrived late following the birth of his son Dellin J., is in his walk year.
John Romano / Tampa Bay Times:
Why there are still reasons to applaud Delmon Young in Tampa Bay  —  He was a bust as a No. 1 pick in 2003, but the Rays have turned Young into a lasting influence through a series of trades.  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — He was finished as a Major Leaguer by the time he was 29.
Discussion: Tampa Bay Times
 
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 More News: 
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk:
Patriots' interest in OBJ made Giants think twice about trading him
Discussion: CBS Boston and NESN.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds, Derek Dietrich Agree To Minor League Deal
Discussion: Bleacher Nation and Red Reporter
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Rockies' Ian Desmond facing big challenge playing center field at Coors Field
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox spring training updates: The whole family is back together
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros to move Yuli Gurriel around during spring training
 Earlier Picks: 
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gloves, balls and drills: 2019 Cardinals spring training gets rolling
Mark Dunphy / Boston Globe:
Red Sox reliever Heath Hembree doesn't regret saying ‘I f*** with Trump’ after the World Series
Discussion: Fox News
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Buster Posey's comments on winning help Giants recruit new outfielder
Associated Press:
Yasmani Grandal takes proactive approach to learning Brewers' staff
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
New position, no problem for Cincinnati Reds catcher, Rule 5 pick Connor Joe
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue and Purple Row
 

 
From WeSmirch:

BBC:
Bernard Hill: Titanic and Lord of the Rings actor dies

Charlotte Phillipp / People:
Emily Blunt Says She Felt Sick After Kissing Certain Actors While Filming: 'I've Definitely Not Enjoyed Some of It'

TMZ.com:
Weston Cage Accused of Battering Mom, Brutal Face Injuries

 
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