Top News:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves lefty McKirahan (elbow) out for season — Braves left-handed reliever Andrew McKirahan will miss the 2016 season after suffering a torn elbow ligament in his first spring training appearance, general manager John Coppolella said Saturday. — McKirahan left the game Wednesday …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Sports and Talking Chop
Fox Sports:
What to do when your window of opportunity is closing — Spring training had barely started for the Toronto Blue Jays and manager John Gibbons was already facing questions about next offseason, when sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion could become free agents.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and baseballmusings.com
Charlie Wilmoth / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Release David Carpenter, Ryan Kelly — The Braves have announced that they've released veteran reliever David Carpenter, along with journeyman righty Ryan Kelly. They also sent a number of players to minor league camp, including 2014 first-rounder Braxton Davidson.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Yahoo Sports
Associated Press:
Cain Doubles, Gets Hit on Foot as Royals Fall to Padres — PEORIA, Ariz. — Lorenzo Cain doubled and scored before leaving as a precaution after getting hit on the right foot in the Kansas City Royals' 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night. — Cain took Ryan Buchter's 93 mph fastball off …
Associated Press:
Greinke Pitches 2 Scoreless Innings in Diamondbacks' Debut — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Diamondbacks' $206.5 million man pronounced his spring training debut for the team as pretty good. — Zack Greinke pitched two scoreless innings in the Diamondbacks' 6-3 victory over an Oakland Athletics' split squad on Friday.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Associated Press:
Ortiz Debuts, Red Sox Beat Rays — FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz went 0 for 3 in his first exhibition game of his final spring training, a 7-2 victory by the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Rays. — Ortiz popped out in the first against Chris Archer, flied out in the fourth off Kyle McPherson …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Nick Groke / On the Rox:
Shane Carle gets wild in Rockies' loss to A's, but Carlos Estevez bounces back — Athletics 9, Rockies 4 At Hohokam Stadium — Mesa, Ariz. — A 20-minute bus ride to Hohokam Stadium led to a long afternoon Friday for the Rockies in a blowout loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Discussion:
Purple Row
Associated Press:
Desmond Doubles in Rangers' Debut, Plays Left — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Ian Desmond did not have any chances in his first game in left field and hit a seventh-inning double for the Texas Rangers in a 3-3 tie against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. — Desmond was the Washington Nationals starting shortstop …
Mark Shanahan / BostonGlobe.com:
Red Sox reporter Jessica Moran resigns amid questions about manager John Farrell — Jessica Moran, a reporter for Comcast SportsNet who covers the Red Sox, resigned from the network Friday amid questions about the nature of her relationship with the team's manager, John Farrell.
Discussion:
The Big Lead, Full Count and Bleacher Report
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kris Bryant, Cubs agree to $652,000 contract — The Chicago Cubs and third baseman Kris Bryant, the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year, agreed to a one-year, $652,000 contract. — Bryant will receive a raise of more than $145,000 - a substantial amount considering he has less than one full year of major league service time.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Associated Press:
Bumgarner Allows 1st-Inning HR in Giants' 4-3 Win Over Reds — GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Madison Bumgarner allowed a first-inning home run to Eugenio Suarez in the San Francisco Giants' 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. — That was the only hit in two innings against Bumgarner …
Associated Press:
Franco Homers for 2nd Straight Day as Phils Top Braves 12-11 — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Maikel Franco hit his second home run in as many days, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 12-11 Friday. — Franco, among the young players the Phillies hope to rebuild around …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports