Top News:
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.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Diamondbacks closer Greg Holland, after being unsigned last offseason, has new take on free agency
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Phillies Nation
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
Rob Manfred Says Baseball Doesn't Have a Free Agency Crisis
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Des Moines Register
Bill Baer / NBCSports.com:
Rob Manfred blames Bryce Harper for going unsigned
Rob Manfred blames Bryce Harper for going unsigned
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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 — TAMPA, Fla. - Already, manager Aaron Boone has a pretty good idea about the condition of his key position players, who officially report to Yankees camp on Monday. — For instance, Aaron Judge …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
The Yankees really need 24-year-old Jonathan Loaisiga to plug the rotation
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Aaron Judge fully healthy entering Yankees' spring training
Aaron Judge fully healthy entering Yankees' spring training
Discussion:
Sporting News, Bleacher Report and Pinstripe Alley
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone is teasing Aaron Judge batting leadoff again
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.
RELATED:
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
How David Robertson negotiated his own contract with Phillies during a never-ending free-agent winter
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
New position, no problem for Cincinnati Reds catcher, Rule 5 pick Connor Joe
New position, no problem for Cincinnati Reds catcher, Rule 5 pick Connor Joe
Discussion:
Purple Row
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:
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers To Re-Sign Mike Moustakas
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, MLB Baseball News …, Beyond the Box Score, Bleacher Nation, MLB Daily Dish and Lone Star Ball
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Second base: Return of Mike Moustakas once again means changes at two infield positions
Second base: Return of Mike Moustakas once again means changes at two infield positions
Discussion:
ESPN and Press Gazette Media
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune:
5 takeaways from Cubs and White Sox spring training — The Cubs and White Sox are back are spring training in Arizona. Here's our takeaways from each day of camp. — As the Cubs and White Sox kick off spring training in Arizona, photographers get a chance to see the players in the most casual environment we see all season.
RELATED:
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox spring training updates: The whole family is back together — Chicago Tribune — An unoccupied locker will remain between Jon Jay on Yonder Alonso (are you reading this, Manny Machado?), but the White Sox's clubhouse will feel more full Monday morning.
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
Discussion:
Associated Press
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Peter Alonso faces down Jacob deGrom in Mets' first live batting practice
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets have to keep pitcher Kyle Dowdy on roster or return him to Indians
Mets have to keep pitcher Kyle Dowdy on roster or return him to Indians
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
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:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs' week ahead includes Tom Ricketts' annual speech, labor talk and the Cactus League opener — Photos of the Cubs at spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., before the 2019 season. — Chicago Tribune — The week ahead for the Cubs: — Opening chapter
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Back-to-basics approach for Joe Maddon and the Cubs starts Monday
Back-to-basics approach for Joe Maddon and the Cubs starts Monday
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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 …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
J. Martinez, Gyorko would be hard to leave off Cardinals — Cardinals infielder Jedd Gyorko fields a ball while running drills during spring training on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Buster Posey's comments on winning help Giants recruit new outfielder — The free agent outfielder joined the Giants after being influenced by Buster Posey — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-Like more than 100 other major league free agents, Cameron Maybin sat at home through the cold winter months wondering …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
The Rangers are now Elvis' team. He is one of five position players to watch this spring — Spring training is all about the pitchers. — Position players say they need half the time it takes to conduct a major-league camp, if that, before they would declare themselves ready for Opening Day.
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros to move Yuli Gurriel around during spring training — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Though the Astros acquired Aledmys Diaz with hopes he can fill a utilityman role on their bench, they will still experiment with another Cuban at other positions. — As he was toward the end of last season …
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle and The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Yasmani Grandal takes proactive approach to learning Brewers' staff — PHOENIX — The ink was hardly dry on his $18.25 million, one-year contract with Milwaukee when Yasmani Grandal started working the phone, reaching out to as many new teammates as possible from his offseason home in Peoria.
