Top News:
Associated Press:
Yankees have lowest payroll ranking since 1992 — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are on track to open the season this week with baseball's seventh-highest payroll, their lowest ranking since 1992, according to projections by The Associated Press. — The Boston Red Sox will top …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Boston Globe
RELATED:
Jill Painter Lopez / Associated Press:
Ohtani gets a hit, Angels beat Dodgers in Freeway exhibition — Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez, left, tags out Albert Pujols at second as Pujols tried to stretch a single into a double during the first inning of a preseason baseball game Monday, March 26, 2018, in Los Angeles.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Associated Press:
Pujols, Shoemaker lead Angels to 4-1 win over Dodgers — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Albert Pujols hit a three-run double to lead the Los Angeles Angels over the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 Monday night in the second game of the exhibition Freeway Series. — Pujols cleared the bases against Rich Hill during a four-run third inning.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Bill Plaschke / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Things might look different in 2019, with Kershaw and Scioscia on the brink
Jeff Fletcher / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:
A look at the 2018 Angels, position by position
Discussion:
Orange County Register, MLB Baseball News … and Halos Heaven
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Yu Darvish likes his fit on Cubs across the board — Chicago Tribune — From an assimilation standpoint, spring training couldn't have gone any better for prized Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish. — “This team went beyond my expectations in every factor,” the free-agent signee said Monday night …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Bleacher Nation
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Players come and go, but Cubs' core appears here to stay awhile — Chicago Tribune — Back in prehistoric times, the phrase “Kessinger, Beckert, Santo and Banks” rolled off the tongues of young Cubs fans as easily as the Pledge of Allegiance. — Not only did shortstop Don Kessinger …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Mark Gonzales / The Charlotte Observer:
Anthony Rizzo sets his sights on doing even more for the Cubs — Anthony Rizzo's 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame didn't stop him from batting leadoff for 14 games last season, and the Cubs first baseman said he would like to be more versatile in the field as well as at the plate.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Scott Kingery's deal is similar to one his idol signed a decade ago | Extra Innings — Scott Kingery grew up idolizing Dustin Pedroia, who starred at nearby Arizona State and was an undersized second baseman just like Kingery. Kingery saw himself in Pedroia, so it was fitting …
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Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Scott Kingery the definition of Gabe Kapler's favorite word — Bold - adjective — (of a person, action or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous — CLEARWATER, Fla. - Be bold, Gabe Kapler urged his players even before they arrived at spring training for a new era in Phillies baseball.
USA Today:
MLB ticket sales: Yankees have highest ticket demand, but Astros' growth staggering — The Houston Astros' first World Series championship has understandably driven ticket demand this offseason, although they're still not the Yankees. — The Yankees are the most in-demand team in terms …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Pinstripe Alley and MLB Daily Dish
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mickey Callaway's keys to success in first season as Mets manager depends on pitchers — The Mets will soon begin a new era with Mickey Callaway set to manage his first game this Thursday when the club open the season against the Cardinals at Citi Field. — Callaway, the former Indians …
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Matt Harvey says the Mets will ‘shock a lot of people’ this season
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
After an enlightening spring training, Mickey Callaway is ready for his first real test as Mets' manager
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Matt Harvey: Mets going to shock a lot of people
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals face off against familiar faces from Toronto — MONTREAL • With a bullpen still under construction and a rotation reworked because of injury, the Cardinals cannot be sure they're the team they want to be, not yet. — They do know the team they could have been.
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
In Montreal, Carpenter continues to see how his throws translate to third
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Scoreless in Montreal: Jays Stroman whistles through Cardinals lineup
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Toronto Sun:
Source: Diamondbacks, Ketel Marte agree to five-year contract — PHOENIX — A person familiar with the deal says the Arizona Diamondbacks and infielder Ketel Marte have agreed to a $24 million, five-year contract. — The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the agreement had not been announced.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
2001 Arizona Diamondbacks: Where are they now? … Though they failed to make the playoffs in 2003, the Diamondbacks were fortunate to stay in the wild-card race into September. That they did it without the help of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling made it that much more impressive.
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Baseball News …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Three keys for Aaron Boone's success in the pressure-packed Yankees season ahead — TORONTO— Even in his off hours, Aaron Boone's subconscious is conjuring lineup configurations. — “I can't tell you, since I've had this job, how many dreams I've had,” the new Yankees manager said of his work-related reverie.
RELATED:
Andrew Bucholtz / The Comeback:
Giancarlo Stanton crushes a deep home run against the Braves, and makes it all look easy
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Talking Chop, Camden Chat and FanRag Sports
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers spring training confirms expectation for losing season — 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
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
20 years of Rays baseball: 20 memorable front pages — ST. PETERSBURG — 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. — Here are the 20 most memorable front pages from the Times:
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs President Theo Epstein and Red Sox manager Alex Cora share mutual admiration — Chicago Tribune — Theo Epstein's association with Alex Cora didn't start until 2005, when Epstein brought Cora from the Indians to the Red Sox. — But their bond appears almost as firm …
RELATED:
Andy McCullough / The Charlotte Observer:
Kershaw, with a World Series loss behind him and a big decision ahead, faces a season like no other — PHOENIX — The colors of the rainbow flickered across the lobby at Camelback Ranch. Green to blue to red to yellow to green again - the light filtered through an L.A. logo carved …
ESPN:
ESPN expert predictions: Who will be MLB's most valuable superstars? — We recently polled 29 ESPN experts to get their award predictions (MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year) for the upcoming season. — EDITOR'S PICKS — Will the Yankees or Indians catch the Astros in the AL?
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
