Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright has good outing, but not so the bullpen — JUPITER, Fla. • The first Cardinals pitcher to last longer than five innings this spring was their oldest pitcher. Adam Wainwright, 37, worked 5 1/3 tidy innings Friday night. He held the Houston Astros to three hits …
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle, MLB Trade Rumors and Call to the Pen
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals take squad of reserves to face Scherzer — JUPITER, Fla. • Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer will be surprised by the Cardinals' lineup he will face Saturday afternoon at West Palm Beach. After many of the regulars played Friday night here, only Jose Martinez …
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees won't have Luis Severino back until May ‘at the earliest’ — TAMPA — Forget missing Opening Day. Luis Severino won't be back for the Yankees until May “at the earliest,” according to general manager Brian Cashman. — The right-hander isn't due to begin a throwing program until Wednesday …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Albert Almora Jr. is one of the Cubs' longest-tenured — and most respected — players: ‘To see the way he handles himself is something we can look up to’ — Photos of Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. — Chicago Tribune — As one of the longest-tenured members of the Cubs organization …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Albert Almora Jr. leading off for Cubs against White Sox; David Bote will start at shortstop
Albert Almora Jr. leading off for Cubs against White Sox; David Bote will start at shortstop
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Latest notes from Braves camp: Rotation, leadoff, schedule — The Braves are less than two weeks from opening day, when they'll travel to Philadelphia and began their NL East title defense. — Here's the latest from camp: — 1. The Braves are expected to announce their opening …
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Charlotte Knights / The Charlotte Observer:
Gabriel Burns: Why can't Ronald Acuna be the 2019 MVP?
Gabriel Burns: Why can't Ronald Acuna be the 2019 MVP?
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
The White Sox own the No. 3 pick in the draft. And they're casting a wide net in search of a potential ‘face of the franchise’ — Chicago Tribune — White Sox amateur scouting director Nick Hostetler and his top scouts didn't have to travel far last month in order to get a head start …
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Forget Kimbrel, Cubs seeking relief from within as bullpen injuries mount — MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs camp has been quiet so far. Perhaps that's because the team is returning essentially the same group that bowed out of the postseason on Day 1 last October.
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Laugh all you want but the Rays are turning the ‘Opener’ and other wacky ideas into real results — CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays, who consistently finish at or near the bottom of the MLB ladder in both payroll and attendance, also continually give us cause to snicker and sneer at all their analytics-driven gimmickry.
Tyler Carey / WKYC-TV:
Indians relief pitcher Tyler Clippard out 3-4 weeks with injury — He will officially miss the start of the regular season. — The Indians are currently in the process of figuring out who will man their bullpen when the season begins. Unfortunately, one man will officially …
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Bill Plaschke / The Charlotte Observer:
Hill could be opening day starter, and after his last exit, wouldn't that be something? — Dave Roberts was asked about the most delicious of opening day scenarios, and he bit. — With Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler both moving slowly through spring training for physical reasons, could Rich Hill be the opening day starter?
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels content with pitching depth, despite Andrew Heaney's injury — Although Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez are available, the Angels don't appear to be pursuing either — TEMPE, Ariz. — Despite Andrew Heaney's injury, which could have him starting the season on the injured list …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Pete Grathoff / Kansas City Star:
Royals' Ned Yost has high praise for one particular trait of prospect Nicky Lopez — The world's best baseball player stepped to the plate earlier this month against the Royals, and Kansas City manager Ned Yost was keen on seeing what would unfold. — But first, Yost glanced back into the Royals dugout.
Stephen Wade / Associated Press:
Ichiro, 45, doesn't know when it'll be time to quit — TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki is enjoying it while he can. — He's back in Japan and sure to play at the Tokyo Dome when the Seattle Mariners face the Oakland Athletics in two games to open the Major League Baseball season.