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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

Mets send Zack Wheeler to Triple-A Las Vegas  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets informed Zack Wheeler on Saturday that he did not make the team and will begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas.  —  The demotion was a bitter pill for Wheeler, who hasn't been a minor leaguer since 2013.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Yankees receive Mike Ford back from Mariners, was Rule 5 draft pick  —  The Yankees had their second player returned from the MLB Rule 5 draft this week, as the Seattle Mariners sent first baseman Mike Ford to New York.  —  The team announced the move on Saturday afternoon …

Ichiro Suzuki goes through protocol, cleared after getting hit in helmet  —  Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who was hit in the batting helmet by a pitch Friday, went through concussion protocol and was cleared Saturday.  —  Manager Scott Servais held Ichiro out of Saturday's game to give him another day of rest.