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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …