Mets, Braves highlight spectacular young talent  —  The Atlanta Braves continued locking up cornerstone players Thursday afternoon, when shortstop Ozzie Albies agreed to a seven-year deal worth a guaranteed $35 million.  But hours after Albies put pen to paper, the New York Mets proved …

Hurty dozen: Yanks add Sanchez to crowded IL  —  NEW YORK — Another day, another New York Yankees star to the injured list.  —  With 11 other players already on their IL, the Yankees announced Friday afternoon that catcher Gary Sanchez would be joining them, retroactive to Thursday …

See Red Sox, this is what happens when you pay attention to details  —  That moment one week before was perhaps the most pointed Alex Cora has been this season.  —  “I pay attention to details,” the manager said after his team's final game in Oakland.  “I love paying attention to details …

Quintana strikes out 11 in 7 innings, Cubs beat Pirates 2-0  —  The Cubs were in need of a strong outing by a starter, and Jose Quintana delivered.  —  The left-hander struck out 11 in seven innings of four-hit ball as Chicago blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on Thursday night.

Lakers coach Luke Walton out after three seasons  —  Third-year coach agrees to part ways just three days after Magic Johnson stepped down as team president  —  LOS ANGELES — Luke Walton, the man the Lakers once hoped would guide them out of the franchise's longest stretch of futility, is done as head coach.

On Deck: Rays at Blue Jays  —  TAMPA BAY RAYS at TORONTO BLUE JAYS  —  STARTING PITCHERS  —  RHP Ryne Stanek (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. RHP Trent Thornton (0-0, 1.69 ERA)  —  Stanek is one of the Rays' “openers.”  He will pitch 1-2 strong innings, and likely rack up some Ks (10.5 K per 9 IP).

Masters 2019: Meet the police officer who nearly took out Tiger Woods  —  AUGUSTA, Ga. — It wasn't hard to spot him.  Even on a rainy Masters Friday, at a soggy Augusta National, in a large Tiger Woods crowd saturated with police officers and security guards, one goateed man's mud-stained uniform …

How the amazing Mariners are playing like baseball's best team  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the simple telling of this beyond-real Seattle Mariners story, Daniel Vogelbach plays the large adult son.  He stands 6-foot, with the round face of a South Park character, the torso of a quarter-barrel keg …

Another day, another phenom arm for Padres against D-backs  —  Arizona Diamondbacks failed to do much Thursday night with Pedro Avila, a  —  San Diego Padres rookie making his first career start.  —  On Friday night in Phoenix, they will try to solve another Padres rookie —  Chris Paddack.

Let's make MLB more fun!  —  Editor's note*: Letters addressed to “ESPN The Ragazine” recently began arriving from a P.O. Box in Pennsylvania, signed by “The Fixer,” whose radical manifestos aim to overhaul sports.  In this note, The Fixer revamps baseball. … Dear Shoulda-Bought-An-ESPN+-Subscription- Instead-Of-This-Rag,