Theo Epstein is impressed by the Cubs' bullpen depth, and they'll need it after so many injuries  —  Who does what for the Cubs?  A look at the franchise's organizational flowchart, from the front office to the dugout to the bullpen.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  After their pleas …

Dodgers' split squads defeat Reds and Padres at spring training  —  Dodgers 3, Cincinnati 3 (SS)  —  Dodgers 12, San Diego 0  —  ON THE MOUND: Hyun-Jin Ryu started the first game against the Reds and gave up two runs on five hits in four innings before throwing a simulated inning in the bullpen.

Dodgers' Seager plays SS for 1st time since April  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Corey Seager played shortstop in a game for the first time since April 29, logging three innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a minor league exhibition.  —  The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year had surgery May 4 to repair …

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 …

UC Irvine rides stingy defense past UC Riverside, into Big West tourney semifinals  —  ANAHEIM — Some teams play tough defense because it's a necessity.  UC Irvine plays defense because it loves the sound of breaking an opponent's heart.  —  That has been the Anteaters' style since Russell …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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. …

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 …

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.

Tigers shelve RHP Fulmer to work on mechanics  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer will not pitch in games in the near future, focusing on lower-body mechanics.  —  “He took a step back to refine his lower-body mechanics,” Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire said after Thursday's 4-4 tie with Boston.

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.