New York Mets' Pete Alonso to issue NFT to aid minor leaguers  —  New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is joining in on the sports NFT trend, but with a minor league twist.  —  Alonso, who is launching his own NFT on Tuesday on Blockparty, is auctioning off the one-of-one digital collectible …

Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen is the subject of a new ‘House Hunters’ episode  —  Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen is used to being behind the microphone.  Not in front of the camera.  —  “I'm a face for radio as people like to say,” Cohen jokes.  —  Cohen and girlfriend Tessa Chen …

Talented 2021 NY Mets hope to make a run and win World Series  —  The Mets are entering a new era.  —  In November, owner Steve Cohen vowed to make the team a sustainable winner, one that would make fans proud.  He brought president Sandy Alderson and, together, they overhauled the roster and parts of the organization.

Anthony Rizzo ending contract talks with Chicago Cubs to focus on season  —  CHICAGO — Longtime Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo will begin the season without a contract with the team beyond 2021, and he is instructing his agents to end negotiations so he can concentrate on baseball.

Scoring, home runs down in spring training with new balls in play  —  With the slightly tweaked baseballs in play, scoring and home runs are down in spring training.  —  Through Sunday, spring training games are averaging 9.4 runs, the lowest-scoring output in the preseason since at least 2015 …

Major League Baseball relaxing COVID-19 protocols for fully vaccinated players, staff  —  PHOENIX — Major League Baseball is getting back to normal.  Players can now travel with their families.  They can go to restaurants.  They can play cards and move around on planes and buses.

Sources: Former No. 1 pick Mark Appel attempting comeback with Phillies  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Three years after he stepped away from baseball as a rare No. 1 pick to have never reached the majors, Mark Appel has been preparing for a comeback.  —  Appel, 29, will soon report to the Phillies' complex …

Still curious?  Catching up with those who brought Sidd Finch to life  —  The day the famous Sports Illustrated story about the Mets and a phenom pitcher hit newsstands, telephones all over New York and Florida started ringing.  In Jay Horwitz's office, a furious sports editor …

Cincinnati Reds GM Nick Krall: ‘Looking like’ Eugenio Suárez will be starting shortstop  —  GOODYEAR, Arizona - Over the last few days of spring training, as the rest of the National League Central finalizes their Opening Day rosters and their starting lineups, the Cincinnati Reds are still waiting on a few answers.

Minnesota Twins coach Mike Bell, brother of Reds manager, dies of cancer at 46  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Minnesota Twins bench coach Mike Bell, the younger brother of Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell, died Friday of kidney cancer.  He was 46.  —  At the request of Bell's family to take the field …