Mariners Acquire Chase De Jong, Designate Mike Freeman  —  The Mariners announced that they've acquired minor league right-hander Chase De Jong from the Dodgers in exchange for minor league infielder Drew Jackson and minor league right-hander Aneurys Zabala.

AL grades: Which team had the best offseason?  —  With baseball's offseason dealings all but complete, USA TODAY Sports examines the moves of all 30 teams.  The grades for the American League:  —  A+  —  Cleveland Indians: The defending AL champions signed this winter's biggest prized free agent — DH Edwin Encarnacion.

Ned Garver, 20-Game Winner for the 102-Loss Browns, Dies at 91  —  Ned Garver, the only pitcher in American League history to win at least 20 games in a season for a ball club that lost at least 100 times, achieving the feat for the 1951 St. Louis Browns, died on Sunday in Bryan, Ohio.  He was 91.

Inside the complete overhaul of Jason Heyward's struggling swing  —  MESA, Az.  — Dec. 5, that's when he started, less than five weeks after the Cubs won the World Series.  Jason Heyward was not messing around.  He had moved to the Phoenix area so he could be closer to the Cubs' training facility, and focus on remaking his swing.

‘Price Rule’ helps umps ID pitching delivery with runner on third base  —  Some of David Price's peers have copied his unusual minimalist delivery in recent seasons, with the small steps seemingly designed to reduce extraneous movement and improve his command.

Royals' Peter O'Brien leaves teammates in awe with ‘freaky’ power  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  Stand inside the batter's box of George Brett Field, the main practice field at Royals spring training, and you can see a collection of trees sitting beyond the right-center field wall.

Jose Abreu testifies he ate fake passport on way to U.S. to cover up his part in smuggling operation  —  MIAMI — Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu told a Miami federal jury Wednesday that he ate a chunk of a fake passport while flying to the U.S. to cover up his illegal travel as part of a Cuban ballplayer smuggling operation.

David Wright Diagnosed With Shoulder Impingement  —  6:20pm: A pair of Mets sources tell Kristie Ackert and Christian Red of the New York Daily News that the news on Wright's shoulder following today's examination is “not good.”  Mets GM Sandy Alderson told reporters today that Wright's shoulder woes …

Greg Bird making impact with bat and leadership at Yankees spring training  —  TAMPA - For two days this week Greg Bird hit nothing but ropes, a pair of doubles on Monday, then two home runs on Tuesday, and you could practically hear the sigh of relief from the Yankees' front office.

Liberty Media: Braves lost money in 2016 despite revenue gain  —  ATLANTA-BRAVES By Tim Tucker - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  —  Braves owner Liberty Media disclosed the team's financial results for 2016 on Tuesday, showing a large operating loss despite an increase in revenue.

Baseball's Too Slow.  Here's How You Fix It.  —  Major League Baseball officials are finally addressing something that many fans have complained about for years: the length of games.  The average game last season took three hours.  Playoff games are even more trying, now often stretching beyond three and a half hours.

Roy Halladay reportedly set for role with Phillies  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Roy Halladay was around the Phillies' spring-training facility this weekend, which may have been the early workings of an agreement to bring the legendary pitcher back into the fold.  —  MLB.com reported Tuesday that Halladay is …

2017 World Baseball Classic: Pool B Capsules  —  AUSTRALIA  —  Top Players: RHP Peter Moylan, LHP Travis Blackley, OF Trent Oeltjen  —  Top Prospect: LHP Lachlan Wells (Twins)  —  Hitting: Australia needs consistency from its international veteran hitters, with former big leaguers Oeltjen …