Harper Lee dead at age of 89: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ author passes away  —  Author Nelle Harper Lee, who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1961 for her book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” passed away in her sleep Friday morning at the age of 89, her family has confirmed.  —  “This is a sad day for our family.

Cheney woman celebrates 110th birthday  —  “There's days she just gets tickled and tells everyone how old she is,” says Jerri Carver, Flossie Dickey's granddaughter.  —  Flossie Dickey is 110 years old.  To really tell Flossie's story we have to take you back in time to the early 1900's …

Tony Phillips, former A's infielder, dies of apparent heart attack  —  Infielder Tony Phillips, a member of the A's 1989 title team, died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 56, according to former Oakland starter Dave Stewart.  —  “T.P. was like my little brother,” said Stewart …

Indians To Sign Juan Uribe  —  The Indians have reached agreement on a deal with free agent third baseman Juan Uribe, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter.  Uribe will earn just under $5MM in the deal, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports on Twitter.  —  This match-up has long been rumored …

Incumbent dealing with oblique strain, likes addition of Giles to bullpen mix  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Speaking with reporters for the first time since the Astros acquired hard-throwing Ken Giles from the Phillies — presumably to be their closer — relief pitcher Luke Gregerson was adamant Thursday he shouldn't lose his job as closer.

Bart Hernandez indicted on charges of alien smuggling  —  Bart Hernandez, a baseball player agent who has specialized in representing Cuban defectors, has been indicted on charges of alien smuggling by a federal grand jury in Miami, where he was arrested early Friday by agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

Zack Greinke's Diamondbacks chapter officially begins  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke should be right in his element by Opening Day.  He'll take the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and if past performance is a harbinger of future results, the Colorado Rockies will have difficulty solving …

Jerad Eickhoff sidelined with thumb injury  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Jerad Eickhoff is unable throw off a mound after suffering a small fracture in his right thumb, but the Phillies insist that the injury will not be prolonged.  —  Eickhoff was hit on the thumb earlier in February …

Rangers Extend Jeff Banister  —  The Rangers announced on Friday that they have exercised their 2018 club option over manager Jeff Banister and added a new club option for the 2019 season to his contract as well.  Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that Banister essentially receives …

Nationals' Papelbon Apologizes for Altercation With Harper  —  VIERA, Fla. — After walking into the clubhouse for the first time at spring training, Jonathan Papelbon smiled and laughed as he embraced former Boston Red Sox teammate Bronson Arroyo and joked Gio Gonzalez about his haircut.