Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
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Associated Press:
Wieters makes Cards roster as Molina backup — JUPITER, Fla. — Matt Wieters has been added to the St. Louis Cardinals' roster after earning the backup job behind catcher Yadier Molina. — Wieters' contract was selected Friday from Triple-A Memphis. He gets a $1.5 million salary …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Before he gets the gold, ‘Goldy’ hits long home run — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. • Paul Goldschmidt's new contract hasn't been announced yet but the Cardinals' first baseman paid the first dividend Friday with a long homer to the opposite field in right center off New York Mets lefthander Hector Santiago in the third inning.
Toronto Sun:
AP source: Cardinals, Goldschmidt completing US$130M, 5-year deal — The St. Louis Cardinals knew that Paul Goldschmidt had one year left on his contract when they acquired the slugging first baseman in an off-season trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. — They also made no secret of their desire to sign him to a long-term deal.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
Discussion:
The Sports Daily
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
'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.
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
What Calhoun's reaction to his demotion to minors might have told the Rangers
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Associated Press:
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 …
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Associated Press:
National League Central capsules — Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year: — ___ — Milwaukee Brewers — 2018: 96-67, first place, lost to Dodgers in NLCS. — Manager: Craig Counsell (fifth season). — He's Here: C Yasmani Grandal …
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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Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka on playing with Ichiro: ‘I treasured that experience’ — TAMPA, Fla. — Masahiro Tanaka, through a translator, said he “couldn't even put into words” the impact Ichiro Suzuki has made in baseball. — “He was a superstar when I was in elementary school.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
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.
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Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Mets to honor Tom Seaver with a statue, address change
Discussion:
WPIX 11 New York, Amazin' Avenue and CBS New York
ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
New York Post
RELATED:
Fletcher Page / Cincinnati.com:
Jesse Winker continues quiet spring in Cincinnati Reds 6-3 loss to Seattle Mariners
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
José Peraza drives in 3 runs during Cincinnati Reds' 14-6 spring loss to Kansas City Royals
Discussion:
Red Reporter and Brew Crew Ball
Ryan Ford / Detroit Free Press:
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 …
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Michael Fulmer has a long road to recovery. Here's when the Tigers think he could return
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
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.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Star Tribune:
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.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
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.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
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.
