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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Outfield: Cards have a new look for 2018  —  Tommy Pham hasn't been a center fielder on a regular basis, nor has Dexter Fowler played right field other than in spring training.  But both seemed comfortable enough in those roles, with Fowler piling up several assists early in the spring schedule …

Gyorko needs to show endurance  —  WHAT NEEDS TO BE PROVEN  —  Jedd Gyorko streamlined his body to be able to last an entire season.  Gyorko was hitting .300 with 14 homers and 47 runs batted in on July 15 last year but was hampered by leg problems thereafter and hit just six homers and drove …

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 …

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.

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.

Projected Cardinals bullpen  —  RH Dominic Leone  • Although he has only one save in 160 games and 178 2/3 innings over parts of four seasons in the majors, he was a solid 3-0 with a 2.56 ERA and one save as a setup man last year in Toronto.  —  RH Bud Norris

National League capsules: 2017 division champs should repeat  —  • Outfielder Bryce Harper is headed toward free agency and a record-shattering contract.  This is his chance to prove he is worth epic money.  Can the Nationals keep him?  If not, can they win a title before he leaves?

American League capsules: Everyone is chasing the Astros  —  • Looking to counter New York's Giancarlo Stanton acquisition, the Red Sox added slugger J.D. Martinez on a five-year, $110 million free-agent contract to serve as their designated hitter.  He launched 45 homers in 119 games last year …

Catcher: Molina has proven himself time and again  —  WHAT NEEDS TO BE PROVEN  —  Nothing much really, in the case of Yadier Molina, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, although denied the award the last two years.  Molina is starting the first year of a three-year deal and he wants …

U-turn: Twins reclaim Kennys Vargas on waivers from Reds  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Kennys Vargas has made a quick U-turn and is headed back to the Minnesota Twins.  —  The Twins reclaimed Vargas off waivers from Cincinnati on Saturday, two days after the Reds plucked him from Minnesota.

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 …

Pedro Strop passes test, but Cubs will wait before finalizing opening day roster  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs will wait until Monday or Tuesday to finalize their 25-man roster, general manager Jed Hoyer said Saturday night.  —  The main concern now is the health of Pedro Strop …

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 …