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.
RELATED:
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.
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 …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals' eventful day ends with humdrum loss to Washington
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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.
RELATED:
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Hicks further delayed, Clint Frazier optioned as Yankees run through outfield decisions — TAMPA, Fla. - Despite Aaron Hicks' lingering back issues, Clint Frazier's longshot path to the Bronx on opening day has come to an end. — In a series of spring training cuts on Friday …
RELATED:
New York Post:
Clint Frazier's rough Yankees camp ends with disappointment — It was not akin to last year's spring training, but it was still not a camp to remember for Clint Frazier. — The Yankees outfielder was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, his bid at winning an Opening Day roster spot coming up far short.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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.
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
With blister healing, Yu Darvish vows to be ready for the Cubs' opening series: 'Even now I'm ready to throw' — Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish discusses his bullpen session and recovery from a blister on Friday, March 22, 2019. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Mets to honor Tom Seaver with a statue, address change — The Mets announced yesterday that Citi Field is getting a new address to honor Tom Seaver. The New York Daily News, meanwhile, reports that in addition to that there will be a Seaver statue coming to Citi Field as well.
Discussion:
WPIX 11 New York, Amazin' Avenue and CBS New York
RELATED:
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets still have three relievers fighting for final bullpen spot — PORT ST. LUCIE — Following another early morning roster slash on Friday, the Mets have just 36 players with lockers in big-league camp. — The team will begin assembling it's Opening Day roster with just three Grapefruit League games remaining.
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.
RELATED:
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:
Red Reporter and 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 and Brew Crew Ball
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Relievers Yimi Garcia, Dylan Floro and Caleb Ferguson make Dodgers' roster — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on Friday announced relievers Yimi Garcia, Dylan Floro and Caleb Ferguson have made the club's opening day roster, nearly rounding out the bullpen a day before the team departs for California.
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
RELATED:
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Brad Miller opts out of contract after learning he wouldn't make Dodgers' roster
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
Ken Rosenthal / The Athletic:
The Astros want to extend Verlander and Cole; Harper on choosing Philly; more notes — The Astros are discussing extensions with right-handers Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, according to major-league sources. Of course they are. Seemingly every team is discussing an extension …
Discussion:
Chico Enterprise-Record, MLB Trade Rumors, Houston Chronicle and Bleacher Nation
ESPN:
Mariners prospect Filia suspended 100 games — NEW YORK — Seattle outfielder Eric Filia, the Mariners' No. 22 prospect according to MLB.com, has been suspended for 100 games following a third positive test for a drug of abuse under baseball's minor league drug program.
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox receive more than 500 fan entries in first 2 hours of tattoo sweepstakes — Keith Fawley of Merrionette Park, shows off his “Sox Side” tattoo in 2016. (Zak Koeske / Daily Southtown) — Chicago Tribune — Thirty White Sox fans will put their skin in the game by getting tattooed …
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
