Top News:
Ben Frederickson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals closer candidate Luke Gregerson to start season on DL — JUPITER, Fla. • Cardinals closer candidate Luke Gregerson's hamstring strain means the righthander will start the season on the disabled list, manager Mike Matheny announced Saturday. — “He's frustrated,” Matheny said.
RELATED:
John Cherwa / Los Angeles Times:
Expectations are sky-high for Yankees newcomers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Boone … Giancarlo Stanton was among the last to arrive at his locker on a recent spring training day. — Twelve carefully placed bats protruded from the top of his locker near a corner of the clubhouse …
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John Harper / New York Daily News:
10 bold predictions for the 2018 baseball season — The brewing bad blood between players and owners aside, baseball is on quite a roll the last couple of years, with compelling postseasons culminating in World Series Game 7s, one of them resulting in the historic Cubs' title. — How do they top that?
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Madison Bumgarner's injury officially closes the book on Giants' title window — SportsPulse: The Dodgers have won their division five years in a row. Are they a lock to do it again? USA TODAY Sports — CONNECT — The window is now shut. — The San Francisco Giants kept trying …
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Associated Press:
Giants' Madison Bumgarner breaks pitching hand on line drive in final spring start — San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner is hurt for the second straight year, breaking a bone in his pitching hand when hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Whit Merrifield during a spring training game on Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and McCovey Chronicles
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw completes scoreless spring in 10-0 rout of Royals
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw completes scoreless spring in 10-0 rout of Royals
Discussion:
Sporting News and Associated Press
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Top 10 most impactful events from Rays spring training — PORT CHARLOTTE — Of all the topics covered in our special section reviewing the first 20 seasons in Rays history, we didn't spend much time on spring trainings. Just as well, because the just-about-completed 21st would be by far the most eventful.
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
20 years of Rays: Best signings, trades and deals
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Brandon Drury says he'll be ready for Yankees' opening day — TAMPA, Fla. - Brandon Drury has a knot on his left elbow, but “I'll be ready Thursday, for sure,” he said of the Yankees' opener at Toronto. — During Friday's game against Boston, the Yankees' third baseman was drilled …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
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George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers release utility man Alexi Amarista; 27 players remain — Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch spoke to reporters on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Lakeland, Fla. Video by George Sipple/DFP — LAKELAND, Fla. — It appears that Niko Goodrum and JaCoby Jones are going to make the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day roster.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Jordan Zimmermann likes his nine-hit outing; Detroit Tigers fall, 4-1 … CONNECT — At Publix Field, Lakeland, Fla. — What happened: The Detroit Tigers lost to the Phillies, 4-1. ... Andrew Knapp drove in a run on a bunt single in the first. The Phillies went ahead, 3-0 …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Surprise Five: Rangers might have found their opening for ‘Big Sexy’ — Not that anyone wants to leave Arizona, but the Texas Rangers will do just that Saturday afternoon following what should be their quickest Cactus League game. — It will be getaway day from spring training …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Sporting News and Lone Star Ball
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Dakota Randall / NESN.com:
Red Sox Trade Deven Marrero To D-Backs For Player To Be Named Later Or Cash — Deven Marrero is headed to the desert. — The Boston Red Sox on Saturday traded the slick-fielding infielder to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later or cash.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Brewers ship 2017 Opening Day starter Junior Guerra to minors — PHOENIX — The Milwaukee Brewers have optioned Junior Guerra, their Opening Day starter a year ago, to Triple-A Colorado Springs. — Guerra has made five spring starts and is scheduled to pitch Sunday's Cactus League finale against the Chicago White Sox.
Jay Cohen / Associated Press:
Mets' David Wright is baseball's lone captain in 2018 — Anthony Rizzo is a three-time All-Star and the 2017 winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball's biggest honor for sportsmanship and community involvement. Jon Lester is a three-time World Series champion, and Jason Heyward organized …
New York Post:
Zack Wheeler gets demoted, and a Mets dream looks dead — A Wheel' shame. — The Fab 5 will not finally make consecutive turns throughout the rotation — at least not to open the season — as the Mets demoted Zack Wheeler to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. Seth Lugo will take his spot as the No. 5 starter.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
ESPN:
Phillies release reliever Francisco Rodriguez — The Philadelphia Phillies released reliever Francisco Rodriguez on Saturday. — Rodriguez, 36, posted a 5.40 ERA in eight appearances this spring. — He was guaranteed $2.5 million if he made the Phillies' Opening Day roster.
Discussion:
Sporting News and MLB Baseball News …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Greg Bird scratched from Yankees spring training start with sore foot, will see doctor — TAMPA, Fla. - Greg Bird has been scratched from Saturday's split-squad game at Disney World due to a sore right foot. — The Yankees first baseman is headed back to Tampa and due to be examined on Saturday afternoon.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Kyle Downing / MLB Trade Rumors:
Blue Jays Release Craig Breslow, Outright Matt Dermody — Left-hander Craig Breslow has been granted his unconditional release by the Blue Jays, per a club announcement. The club has also outrighted fellow southpaw Matt Dermody to Triple-A Buffalo. — During Breslow's best years, he was an incredibly effective lefty reliever.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter