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.

'We'll support him through it, but he also has a responsibility to take ownership of this'  —  MLB rules allow 72 hours for a player who has been optioned to the minors to report to his team, even if all a player has to do during Texas Rangers spring training is move around 100 steps.

National League West capsules  —  Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:  —  ___  —  Los Angeles Dodgers  —  2018: 92-71, first place, lost to Boston in World Series.  —  Manager: Dave Roberts (fourth season).  —  He's Here: CF A.J. Pollock …

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.

Jupiter Jackpot: Goldschmidt to become highest-paid Cardinal in franchise history  —  Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt takes batting practice at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com  —  JUPITER, Fla.

Agent angry Reds demoted top prospect Senzel  —  The Cincinnati Reds sent Nick Senzel, their top prospect, to the minor leagues on Friday, and the move didn't sit well with Senzel's agent.  —  Senzel is a third baseman who has also seen action at second base and shortstop in the minors.

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 …

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.

Twins option Fernando Romero to Class AAA Rochester  —  After starting last season, he was slated to be a relief pitcher in 2019.  —  TEXT SIZE  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Twins have optioned Fernando Romero to Class AAA Rochester in a move that alters their bullpen picture.

Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu to start opening day after Rich Hill is sidelined by knee injury … Dodgers manager Dave Roberts named Hyun-Jin Ryu the team's opening day starter Friday, ending a monthlong mystery lengthened by injuries to the club's first three choices for the nod.

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.

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.