Catcher Christian Vazquez, Red Sox reach deal through 2021  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Catcher Christian Vazquez and the Boston Red Sox have reached agreement on a new contract that takes him through the 2021 season.  —  The deal announced Saturday includes a team option for 2022.

Mayers pitches one inning, makes Cardinals team  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • In their final home exhibition game, the Cardinals trotted out nine pitchers in nine innings.  Some were minor leaguers and righthander Mike Mayers, who started the game, came to camp with that designation.

Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … In the twilight hours of Aug. 1, 2011, the Diamondbacks' core began to take shape.  Paul Goldschmidt, playing in his first major league game, lined the second pitch he saw into right field for a clean single.  Within two years it would become clear …

Giants ace Bumgarner has surgery on broken left pinkie  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner has undergone surgery to have three pins inserted into the broken pinkie on his pitching hand.  —  Bumgarner had surgery Saturday, and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Former big-league star Howard Johnson hit in face by line drive at spring-training game  —  Minor-league baseball hitting coach and former big-league star Howard Johnson was struck in the face by a line drive and transported off the field on a stretcher Saturday.  —  Johnson, 57, is a Texas Rangers minor-league hitting coach.

Pitcher Bartolo Colon cut by Rangers, could rejoin them soon  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Texas Rangers have cut pitcher Bartolo Colon, but the popular 44-year-old could rejoin them soon.  —  The Rangers released Colon from his minor league contract.  The team faced a Saturday deadline …

Yankees' Bird scratched because of sore right foot  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees first baseman Greg Bird was scratched from the starting lineup in a split-squad road game Saturday against Atlanta because of a sore right foot.  —  Bird had an initial examination by team orthopedic surgeon …

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.

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.

Twins Claim Kennys Vargas  —  The Twins have claimed Kennys Vargas off waivers from the Reds, says Dan Hayes of The Athletic.  The Reds had claimed the first base/DH type off waivers from the Twins just two days ago, but it's possible that they designated him in order to make room …

Michael Conforto progressing but still likely to start year on Mets' disabled list  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Despite his quick progression, Mets outfielder Michael Conforto is “likely” to start the year on the disabled list, according to manager Mickey Callaway.  —  Callaway floated a scenario …

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 …

Giants fans to pay more for parking at Bay Bridge rivalry games in Oakland unless they yell “Go A's!”  —  Hey, Giants fans.  It's gonna cost ya to motor up to the Coliseum.  —  The Oakland Athletics announced on Saturday a playful pricing plan for parking at their stadium for games against the Bay Bridge rivals.

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 …

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.

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 …

Padres 6, Reds 2  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Reds fell to San Diego Padres 6-2 Saturday before a crowd of 5,835 at Goodyear Ballpark.  —  The game in three paragraphs:  —Left-hander Brandon Finnegan made the start.  He went three innings and allowed two runs on six hits.  He struck out two and walked none.

Cubs' Tommy La Stella accepts being target of prank  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Tommy La Stella could only tip his cap to the Cubs' front office, video team and teammate Anthony Rizzo for teaming up to pull off a prank that appeared Friday on the Sloan Park video board in front of a sellout crowd.