Aaron Judge switches equipment to Adidas from Under Armour  —  PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is switching his equipment supplier to Adidas from Under Armour.  —  Adidas said Tuesday it had agreed to a multiyear partnership with the AL Rookie of the Year, who set a rookie record with 52 home runs last season.

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

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson tweets support for Noah Syndergaard, escalates pitcher's feud with Mr. Met  —  The Rock smells what Noah Syndergaard is cookin'.  —  The Mets pitcher tweeted out his excitement Monday about returning to the Big Apple Tuesday night following two months of spring training in Florida.

Tucker hits slam in 1st Minute Maid AB as Astros top Brewers  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Kyle Tucker gave Houston Astros fans a nice peak into the future a few days before the World Series champions formally begin their title defense.  —  The prized prospect hit a grand slam in his first-ever at-bat …

Top prospect Ronald Acuna rejects Braves' $30 million contract offer  —  Atlanta Braves top prospect Ronald Acuna recently rejected a $30 million contract extension offer from the team, a source told ESPN Deportes.  —  The deal would have been in the range of five to six years, the source told ESPN Deportes.

Yankees will stick with Tyler Austin-Neil Walker combo at first while waiting for Greg Bird to return, GM Brian Cashman says  —  Brian Cashman said Tuesday he has no plans to acquire anyone to play first base in Greg Bird's injury-related absence, as the Yankees will rely primarily …

Brad Boxberger named D-backs' closer; Archie Bradley to remain in multi-inning relief role  —  The Diamondbacks have named Brad Boxberger as their closer to start the season, meaning star right-hander Archie Bradley will remain in a multi-inning role in Arizona's bullpen.

Marlins turn down $200G check from Marlins Man for season tickets: report  —  Marlins Man is no more in Miami.  —  For the first time since 1993, the orange-clad diehard fan of the now floundering baseball team will not have season tickets to Marlins games, after the team rejected his $200,000 check …

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?

Twins Outright Kennys Vargas  —  The Twins have announced that first base/DH Kennys Vargas was outrighted to Triple-A after clearing waivers.  He did not have the choice of refusing the assignment.  —  Vargas was re-claimed recently from the Reds.  The Cincinnati organization had snagged …

Ryan McMahon makes the Rockies opening day roster in a step toward the future  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies rookie first baseman Ryan McMahon, among the club's top prospects, hit himself onto the opening day roster, sources said Tuesday, as Colorado kick-started its future.

Mariners To Sign Jayson Werth  —  The Mariners have agreed to a minor-league deal with outfielder Jayson Werth, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).  Potential salary terms are not yet known.  —  Werth will open his time with the Seattle organization in extended spring camp, per Divish.

To rest or not to rest?  Gabe Kapler wants to keep Phillies outfielders fresh, productive  —  On a lazy spring-training morning earlier this month at Spectrum Field - as lazy as a spring-training morning gets when Gabe Kapler is managing, that is - music filled the Phillies clubhouse.