Wieters wins Cards' backup catcher job over Pena  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.  • _Matt Wieters, signed two weeks into spring training, has won the Cardinals' backup catcher job over Francisco Pena, who had it last year.  Both were on non-roster contracts in camp with potential opt-outs on Friday.

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.

Mets to honor Tom Seaver with Citi Field address change, statue coming in 2020  —  The Mets are finally going to give ‘The Franchise’ his due.  —  The team announced Thursday that Citi Field is getting a new address to honor Tom Seaver.  —  “@CitiField is getting a permanent address change!” the club tweeted.

What Calhoun's reaction to his demotion to minors might have told the Rangers  —  The biggest news of Rangers spring training was announced Thursday.  Willie Calhoun will not be on the Opening Day roster, and Hunter Pence will be.  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  To say that Willie Calhoun took …

Michael Fulmer's Tommy John surgery has risks along with rewards  —  The Detroit Tigers' plans for their rotation, both this season and in the future, took a serious hit when right-handed starter Michael Fulmer was diagnosed as needing Tommy John surgery, in which the ulnar collateral ligament …

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.

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.

A Battle for My Life  —  I had just finished filming Season 1 of “Game of Thrones.”  Then I was struck with the first of two aneurysms.  —  Just when all my childhood dreams seemed to have come true, I nearly lost my mind and then my life.  I've never told this story publicly, but now it's time.

6 Cubs players who may hold the key to a successful 2019 season  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Back-to-back losses to the Brewers in the National League Central tiebreaker on Oct. 1 and to the Rockies in the NL wild-card game on Oct. 2 brought an abrupt and bitter end to the Cubs' 95-win season in 2018.

6 White Sox players who may hold the key to a more successful 2019 season  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The 2018 White Sox needed to avert a meltdown in September to avoid 100 losses.  They failed to do it, dropping 18 of their last 24 games.  But hope and optimism are abundant in the Sox's clubhouse this spring.

Joe Maddon toasts the retiring Ichiro Suzuki: ‘He can do whatever he wants on a baseball field with the bat’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Ichiro Suzuki's retirement Thursday night after 19 major-league seasons and 3,089 hits bought back fond memories for Joe Maddon, who recalled a scene …

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.