Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright scratched from start against Washington — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. • Veteran Adam Wainwright has been scratched from his scheduled start for the Cardinals' last Grapefruit League game Sunday and will be replaced by 21-year-old Jordan Hicks, one of the Cardinals' top prospects.
Discussion:
Sporting News, Federal Baseball and MLB Trade Rumors
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Associated Press:
Cards pitcher Wainwright going on DL with hamstring strain — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright will start the season on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring. — The Cardinals made the announcement Sunday.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hicks, stepping in for Wainwright, throttles Nationals — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. • “Emergency” starter Jordan Hicks, taking the place of Adam Wainwright when the latter's left hamstring wouldn't cooperate, offered up some 100 and 101 mph fastballs to the Washington Nationals Sunday.
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers outright Blaine Hardy to Triple-A to make spot on 40-man roster — The beginning of the Major League Baseball season brings a new round of predictions. The Detroit Free Press' Anthony Fenech and George Sipple give their prognostications for the 2018 season. Wochit — CONNECT
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George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit's Michael Fulmer has strong outing as Tigers beat Braves, 10-3
Detroit's Michael Fulmer has strong outing as Tigers beat Braves, 10-3
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Tom Kuebel / Arizona Sports:
Diamondbacks option Yasmany Tomas to Triple-A Reno — Yasmany Tomas was optioned to Triple-A Reno by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday morning, reducing the roster to 33 players. — The Cuban outfielder/third baseman signed a six-year, $68-million dollar contract with the Diamondbacks …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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Arizona Republic:
Next Slide — Yasmany Tomas won't open the season with the Diamondbacks. — On Sunday, the team announced they had optioned the outfielder/third baseman to Triple-A Reno. — Tomas, 27, had posted a .293 batting average and a .370 on-base percentage with the Diamondbacks this spring.
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Phillies prospect Scott Kingery makes team, gets long-term deal — As many major league teams choose to send their top prospects to the minor leagues to start the regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies have taken the opposite approach with infielder Scott Kingery.
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Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Sign Scott Kingery To Long-Term Deal — 2:51pm: The contract includes a $1.5MM signing bonus, per Gelb, who also has the yearly breakdown. Kingery will earn $750K this year, $1.25MM in 2019, $1.5MM in 2020, $4MM in 2021, $6MM in 2022 and $8MM in 2023. Additionally, there's a $1MM buyout with the options.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight and MLB Daily Dish
Tampa Bay Times:
20 years of the Rays: Recounting the 20 most memorable injuries — With the Rays planning a year-long celebration of their 20th anniversary, the Times is taking a look back - with 20 lists of 20 things about those first 20 seasons.Being a Rays fan over the yea
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Chelsea Janes / Chicago Tribune:
Miguel Montero on Nationals: Excited to be on team ‘that has a chance to win it all’ — The Washington Post — From the moment the Nationals signed catcher Miguel Montero in early February, he seemed likely to win a spot on their Opening Day roster. No one would say that, of course.
ESPN:
Michael Conforto to start on DL after shoulder surgery — New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto was informed Sunday morning that he will start the season on the disabled list as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery. — Mets manager Mickey Callaway delivered the news to Conforto, according to the New York Daily News.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
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Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Designate Cameron Rupp — The Phillies have designated catcher Cameron Rupp for assignment, per a team announcement. The club selected right-hander Drew Hutchison's contract in a corresponding move. — The 29-year-old Rupp has been a member of the Phillies since they chose …
Discussion:
The Good Phight and MLB Baseball News …
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Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Cameron Rupp sent out to make room for Drew Hutchison on Phillies roster
Cameron Rupp sent out to make room for Drew Hutchison on Phillies roster
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Associated Press:
Hellickson, Napoli, Revere among the latest big league cuts — Washington pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, Cleveland slugger Mike Napoli and Cincinnati outfielder Ben Revere were among the latest cuts as big league teams reached a deadline to make roster decisions.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Beating up on Reds, Pirates might be key to winning NL Central — JUPITER, Fla. • A laughingstock no more, the National League Central Division has established itself as the premier, most competitive division in the league. By far. — For example, in the last seven league championship series …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and MLB Daily Dish
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Craig Davis / Orlando Sentinel:
Lewis Brinson goes from Coral Springs High to Marlins starter in center — Sun Sentinel — Growing up in Coral Springs, Lewis Brinson was an enthusiastic Marlins fan but never attended an Opening Day game. — His first will come Thursday in uniform, batting first and starting in center field …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Happ's power in leadoff spot gives Cubs lineup ‘an intimidation factor’ — Chicago Tribune — A break with tradition might give the Cubs a more fearsome presence before Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo bat in the first inning. — The power Ian Happ displayed last season and this spring …
ESPN:
Ty Blach to start opener with Madison Bumgarner out — Left-hander Ty Blach will start on Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, manager Bruce Bochy announced Sunday. — The announcement comes a day after Giants ace Madison Bumgarner had surgery …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and McCovey Chronicles
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox reserving the right to dream big in Year 2 of the rebuild — Chicago Tribune — Ten years ago the Rays were coming off a 96-loss season and predicted by most to finish last again the American League East. — It didn't turn out that way, as starter James Shields pointed out at the start of White Sox spring training.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Steven Matz feeling good after finishing spring with 4 scoreless innings vs. Marlins — PORT ST. LUCIE - Steven Matz finished strong. — The Mets left-hander, who was coming off elbow surgery to move his ulnar nerve, threw four scoreless innings against the Marlins Sunday.
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks' 2001 World Series team: Where are they now? — Where are they now? — A look at some of the key figures from the Diamondbacks' 2001 winning World Series championship team and what they are doing now: — Infielder Jay Bell: Manager of the Trenton Thunder …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Second base: Cards need Wong on the field — WHAT NEEDS TO BE PROVEN — That Kolten Wong, the unquestioned starter at the position, can play more than two-thirds of a season. He played in exactly two-thirds of last season's games at 108, and that isn't enough.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gyorko needs to show endurance
Associated Press:
Braves release veteran left-hander Scott Kazmir — ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have released Scott Kazmir after the left-hander fell short in his bid to win the No. 5 spot in the team's rotation. — The 34-year-old Kazmir was acquired with Brandon McCarthy and infielder Charlie Culberson …