Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Goldschmidt will hit second for first time with Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • Paul Goldschmidt, who hit 17 homers, drove in 40 runs and batted .349 while hitting second in Arizona's lineup for 47 games last season, will make his first appearance in that spot this spring on Sunday.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gorman's homer ignites Cards' rally vs. Nationals — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. • A young Cardinal who has captured the imagination of an entire fan base heard the news like any 18-year-old would in 2019: from Twitter. — Nolan Gorman had returned from the back fields of Roger Dean Stadium …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
What competition for Cards' bench roles reveals about O'Neill's strong grip on roster spot — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. • Among the many mirror traits Yairo Munoz and Drew Robinson share is their ability to play center field, and while that could be a selling point for their place …
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gorman homers in first Grapefruit League start, a comeback win by Cardinals' kids
Kyle Newman / Denver Post:
Projecting the Rockies' 25-man opening day roster from the no-brainers to the bubble players
Projecting the Rockies' 25-man opening day roster from the no-brainers to the bubble players
Discussion:
Purple Row
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge demolishes a 4-man outfield — TAMPA — Aaron Judge knew something was different. The Yankees slugger could see what he thought were the two corner infielders in his peripheral vision as he looked at the pitcher. Judge, however, was not that bothered by the dramatic four-man outfield shift …
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Why it can be difficult for the Cincinnati Reds to use platooned lineups in the NL Central — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - After adding more outfield and infield depth throughout the offseason, one of manager David Bell's toughest tasks will be dividing at-bats all season.
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Phillip Ervin hits 3-run homer, Anthony DeSclafani sharp in Cincinnati Reds' 5-2 win over Texas Rangers — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Phillip Ervin and Tucker Barnhart hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning and the Reds rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Robinson Cano shares bygone Yankees lessons in Mets clubhouse — JUPITER, Fla. - The “numbers don't matter in spring training” portion of camp is reaching an end. — Michael Conforto said he's gearing it up now that there are only eight Grapefruit League games remaining.
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets lineup must carry early results into regular season — JUPITER, Fla. - The Mets productive spring training offense has the burden of proving it's not a fluke. — Manager Mickey Callaway recently said we'll be seeing more and more of the Mets regular lineup as Grapefruit League games come to a close.
ESPN:
What you need to know about MLB's new rules — MLB and the MLB Players Association have agreed to a deal that will enact several new rules starting in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Here are some of the most notable rule changes and what they might mean for the game, both on and off the field.
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Jim Armstrong / Star Tribune:
Ichiro hitless as Mariners beat Yomiuri 6-4 in exhibition — TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki's struggles at the plate have followed him to Japan. — Ichiro went hitless in three at-bats on Sunday when his Seattle Mariners beat the Yomiuri Giants 6-4 in an exhibition game ahead of their MLB season-opening series against the Oakland A's.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
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Stephen Wade / Associated Press:
Ichiro, 45, doesn't know when it'll be time to quit
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: From a 3-batter minimum to only 1 trade deadline: Will these rule changes improve baseball? — Chicago Tribune — In the never-ending search to persuade millennials to pay more attention to the national pastime, Major League Baseball and the players union announced a slew of new rules …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees meet with MLBPA head over work stoppage fears — TAMPA — The players are gearing up for a fight. — After two straight winters of the free agent market squeezing out veteran and mid-level players, many are getting more involved with the union in preparations of negotiations with the league beginning this season.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks playing coy on naming Opening Day starter — By pushing left-hander Robbie Ray's next start back a day, the Diamondbacks took a step toward lining up their starting rotation for the regular season, though manager Torey Lovullo remained unwilling to name an Opening Day starter.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Time running out for Aaron Hicks and more Yankees injury developments — Aaron Hicks still has not resumed baseball activities. — The center fielder, shut down since receiving a cortisone shot for a sore/stiff lower right back earlier this spring, is running out of time to be ready for Opening Day.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Don Brennan / Toronto Sun:
Jays Cheapseats: Grichuk an unlikely leadoff hitter, but he'll give it a go — DUNEDIN, Fla. — It's easy to imagine Bo Bichette topping the Blue Jays batting order in the not-too-distant future. — “I see him leading off,” manager Charlie Montoyo agreed, his eyes lighting up at the mention of Bichette's name.