Top News:
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Mariners win in Tokyo as Ichiro plays, then retires — Mariners win in Tokyo as Ichiro plays, then retires — The magnitude of the moment — of sharing the field with the towering Ichiro Suzuki in his farewell — left Seattle Mariners teammate Yusei Kikuchi in reverential silence.
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Associated Press:
Blake Snell, Rays agree to $50 million, 5-year contract — SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS — PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will go into his first career opening-day start with a lot more financial security than he envisioned just a few days ago.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Sacramento Bee:
Ichiro walks off into history in ‘sayonara’ at Tokyo Dome — Ichiro Suzuki has said “sayonara.” — The 45-year-old Seattle Mariners star announced his retirement Thursday night, shortly after waving goodbye at the Tokyo Dome during a 5-4 win over Oakland in 12 innings.
Martin Gallegos / Mercury News:
A's fall to Mariners in extras from Tokyo in Ichiro's final MLB game — A's lose in Ichiro's final MLB game, Matt Olson injures hand — TOKYO — A storybook ending to the career of one of baseball's all-time legends came at the expense of the A's. — The A's had plenty of chances …
Discussion:
Marin Independent Journal and Reuters
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
As Ichiro waves goodbye to baseball, Masahiro Tanaka opens up about his time with the legendary hitter
Stephen Wade / Associated Press:
Ichiro Suzuki will reportedly retire after Mariners-A's in Japan
Ichiro Suzuki will reportedly retire after Mariners-A's in Japan
Discussion:
Associated Press, New York Post and MLB Trade Rumors
New York Daily News:
Ichiro walks off to loud cheers in Tokyo then announces retirement; Mariners beat A's 5-4 in 12
Ichiro walks off to loud cheers in Tokyo then announces retirement; Mariners beat A's 5-4 in 12
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
In Ichiro's finale, Seattle tops A's; Matt Olson lost to hand injury
In Ichiro's finale, Seattle tops A's; Matt Olson lost to hand injury
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Michael Fulmer has a long road to recovery. Here's when the Tigers think he could return — LAKELAND, Fla. — Al Avila had a lot on his mind. — So, at 6:53 on Thursday morning, the Tigers sent out a text message saying Avila, the team's fourth-year general manager …
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Al Avila on Nicholas Castellanos contract: 'He knows it's on our mind' — LAKELAND, Fla. — The loss of Michael Fulmer for the season to Tommy John surgery has raised a lot of questions about the Tigers' rotation, enough that general manager Al Avila called an impromptu 8 …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers observations: Miguel Cabrera shows off his power
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How Detroit Tigers' Spencer Turnbull set himself up for starting spot
How Detroit Tigers' Spencer Turnbull set himself up for starting spot
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Fletcher Page / Cincinnati.com:
Jesse Winker continues quiet spring in Cincinnati Reds 6-3 loss to Seattle Mariners — PEORIA, Ariz. - In the second game of day-night doubleheader Thursday to conclude split-squad action, the Reds collected just five hits and committed three errors in a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
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Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds first-base coach Delino DeShields enjoys father-son moment — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Before Wednesday's spring training against the Texas Rangers, Reds first-base coach Delino DeShields exchanged lineup cards with his son, Delino, who started in center field for the Rangers, at home plate.
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
José Peraza drives in 3 runs during Cincinnati Reds' 14-6 spring loss to Kansas City Royals — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - In the first game of a split-squad, day-night doubleheader Thursday, the Reds pounded eight hits and six went for extra bases in a 14-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Goodyear Ballpark.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Source: Cardinals finalizing extension with Goldschmidt for club record sum — Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt watches teammates hit before he takes batting practice at spring training camp in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com — Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Discussion:
FanSided, NESN.com and baseballmusings.com
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals' eventful day ends with humdrum loss to Washington — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. • Given all that had already happened for the Cardinals on Thursday, from a sunup announcement that Alex Reyes had made the team out of the bullpen and the sundown news that Paul Goldschmidt had a new …
Associated Press:
Trout plays full game a day after landing rich deal — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus likes to have his regulars play nine innings at least once in a spring training game and on Thursday, it was Mike Trout's turn against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Discussion:
ESPN
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Associated Press:
Phils' Harper hits first HRs; 'Cutch, Realmuto also go deep — CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Bryce Harper has been playing catch-up since his free agency carried over into spring training. — With a week left until opening day, the Philadelphia Phillies' big-money addition looks ready to pay off.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets tag Brandon Nimmo as leadoff batter on Opening Day — PORT ST. LUCIE — Brandon Nimmo may have a knack for speeding up time. — Two weeks ago the outfielder said, “It kind of feels like it's January with the bat.” — On March 7, Nimmo was batting .133 with zero home runs.
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Daily Record:
Mets Brandon Nimmo heating up; Todd Frazier, Jed Lowrie likely not ready for opening day — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Thursday marked exactly a week before the start of the regular season. And it's pretty clear that Mets centerfielder Brandon Nimmo is ready for the games to mean something.
Robert Murray / The Athletic:
What would Craig Kimbrel mean to the Brewers? Continued bullpen dominance — PHOENIX — The Brewers' signing of catcher Yasmani Grandal to a one-year, $18.25 million deal was one of the most unexpected moments of the offseason. But really, it was the organization taking advantage …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Brew Crew Ball and NBCSports.com
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Corey Knebel Undergoing Examination For UCL Injury
Corey Knebel Undergoing Examination For UCL Injury
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jason Heyward is prepared for the uncertainty of the 2019 season: 'Right now I'm just trying to look at pitches' — Photos of Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward. — Chicago Tribune — Jason Heyward's Cubs career has had glimpses of promise only to be tempered by injuries or regression.
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Greg Bird x-rays negative for break — TAMPA — Greg Bird and the Yankees got good news Thursday. x-rays in the first baseman's elbow came back negative for a break. He had been scratched from Thursday's game in Jupiter after being hit in the right elbow with a pitch on Wednesday.
Sam Miller / ESPN:
How many complete games will be thrown in 2019? Thirty? Ten? None? — If asked how baseball has changed most over the past three decades, the answer could be the precipitous decline of the complete game. Lots of things change in scale, in frequency, in importance.