Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB, union agree to 1 trade deadline — A single trade deadline and an All-Star Game Election Day will be implemented in 2019 while roster expansion will happen in 2020 as part of a deal Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are set to announce Thursday, sources familiar with the agreement told ESPN.
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
The Pete Alonso Dilemma: games in April count as much as games in September — PORT ST. LUCIE — Pete Alonso is the type of slugger Mets fans would pay to see from Opening Day to the end of his tenure. — The reality is, if the Mets hold Alonso in the minors until a few weeks into the regular season …
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
MLB eliminates multiple trade deadlines, 40-man September rosters — After a winter of bickering about the distribution of the sport's wealth, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Assn. announced a series of rule changes to be made over the next two seasons …
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Mets' Todd Frazier, Jed Lowrie likely won't be ready for start of regular season
Mets' Todd Frazier, Jed Lowrie likely won't be ready for start of regular season
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Daily Record:
Masahiro Tanaka is headed in the right direction toward Yankees' opening day start — TAMPA, Fla. — Above all, Masahiro Tanaka felt that Wednesday's start gave him an indication that things are moving in the right direction. — Nearly two weeks away from his scheduled opening day start …
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David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Predicting the next top-100 player for all 30 teams — This won't shock you if you have last year's standings memorized, but the premium talent in baseball isn't exactly spread evenly across the sport. The Yankees had nine players crack the MLB Rank top 100, the Astros had seven …
Discussion:
NESN.com
Bob Nightengale / Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
MLB's new rule could force pitching specialists to become extinct — MESA, Ariz. — The left-handed relief pitchers, particularly the specialists, fear it will cost them their jobs. — The managers believe it will ruin strategy. — And baseball traditionalists despise it.
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB's new rule could force pitching specialists to become extinct
Don Brennan / Toronto Sun:
CHEAPSEATS: Improved discipline at the plate paying off for Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernandez — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Teoscar Hernandez did absolutely nothing at the plate on Thursday. — He didn't hit, he didn't walk. And, for the first time in 11 Grapefruit League games, he did not even reach base.
RELATED:
Don Brennan / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays name Marcus Stroman opening day starter
Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
Manny Machado and the Padres already feels like a solid marriage — Photos of Manny Machado, one of the top free agents this season. — The Washington Post — The world at large, the greater baseball community and the members of the 2019 San Diego Padres all found out at roughly the same time …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Eddie Matz / ESPN:
Life after Harper? Juan Soto can be what Bryce was ... and more — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — If you think Juan Soto is feeling pressure, think again. — Last May, Soto exploded onto the scene as a 19-year-old outfielder with the Washington Nationals. Due to injuries in D.C. …
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Is Estevan Florial ‘a young Bernie Williams’ or a future bust? — TAMPA, Fla. — When the prospect rankers began unveiling their annual lists of baseball's best up-and-comers, a common theme emerged regarding one of the New York Yankees' prized players. — Estevan Florial …
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Nathan Eovaldi explains why there was little doubt he would land back with Red Sox — Nathan Eovaldi has been one of the revelations of Red Sox camp thus far. And to think some thought it would be a longshot that the pitcher would actually find himself living life in Fort Myers this time of year.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and NESN.com
RELATED:
Justin Leger / NBCSports.com:
Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi doesn't miss a beat in spring debut
Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi doesn't miss a beat in spring debut
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Athletic, Over the Monster and WEEI
Daily Record:
Yankees' Dellin Betances feels he's headed in the right direction — Yankees' Dellin Betances gives up a triple in exhibition game vs. Pirates at Tampa, during another rocky spring training outing — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Away from the crowds, absent of a scoreboard flashing radar gun readings …
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Win now and win later: The Cubs and White Sox are eying different goals as opening day nears — Cubs pitcher Jon Lester discusses the struggles he experienced in a spring training game against the Athletics on March 13, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz. — Chicago Tribune
Discussion:
South Side Sox and MLB Trade Rumors
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Theo Epstein is impressed by the Cubs' bullpen depth, and they'll need it after so many injuries — Theo Epstein says any reinforcements for the Cubs' ailing bullpen will come from within the organization. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Bader to lead off; Fowler bats third in Cards' game vs. Mets — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals, who are averaging under four runs a game this spring, are resting several regulars for Thursday's exhibition with the New York Mets but the top four names in the lineup are familiar ones.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ben Zobrist bats leadoff and Yu Darvish faces former teammates as the Cubs take on the Rangers — Cubs pitcher Jon Lester discusses the struggles he experienced in a spring training game against the Athletics on March 13, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz. — Chicago Tribune
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Lone Star Ball
Associated Press:
Chacin to start Brewers' opener against Cards — PHOENIX — Jhoulys Chacin has been picked to start the Milwaukee Brewers' opener against St. Louis on March 28. — A 31-year-old right-hander, Chacin was 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 35 starts last season. He also started openers for Colorado in 2013 and San Diego in 2017.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Jon Tayler / Sports Illustrated:
The Tao of Yasiel Puig: The Reds' New Star Riffs on Bat Flips, Life and His Rocky End With the Dodgers — Yasiel Puig isn't entirely bitter about his departure from the Dodgers, but the polarizing Reds outfielder is unafraid of saying that trading him was a mistake and an insult.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and True Blue LA
Keith Law / ESPN:
Former top-10 pick Carter Stewart having delivery issues — Right-hander Carter Stewart was No. 2 on my draft board last spring and went No. 8 overall to the Atlanta Braves in the 2018 draft, but didn't sign with the team after a disagreement over something that arose in his post-draft physical.
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Former Indians OF Coco Crisp signs one-game contract with Lake Erie Crushers — Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Coco Crisp will play one game for the Lake Erie Crushers during the 2019 season. — CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Coco Crisp is set for a return to the baseball diamond, for a limited engagement.