Yanks' Greg Bird has ankle surgery again, out 6-8 weeks  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Oft-injured New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird had surgery on his ailing right ankle and could be sidelined for nearly two months.  —  The Yankees said Tuesday's operation went as planned.

Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland says starters need to perform consistently  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —Dave Eiland marveled at the Mets pitching staff during the World Series in 2015 while he instructed Kansas City's hurlers.  —  Now, as the Mets' pitching coach, Eiland is equally as impressed …

Detroit Tigers finish spring training with a win, brace for tough 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

Cubs manager Joe Maddon enthused about defensive improvement for 2018  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs' hopes for a return to the World Series isn't limited solely to rebound seasons from players on an offense that barely changed its personnel from 2017.  —  They anticipate their defense …

Weaver finishes spring with (ho hum) another handful of shutout innings  —  MONTREAL  • There hasn't been the fanfare of the new guy imported from Japan or the older guy reworking his stuff, or even the less young guy with his new curveball or the opening day starter and his odd spring.

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 …

Despite trade speculation, Domingo Santana remains with Brewers and is happy about it  —  HOUSTON - When the Milwaukee Brewers finished their exhibition season Tuesday and headed for San Diego to open the season, Domingo Santana was still on the team.  —  How many people predicted that wouldn't happen?

2001 Arizona Diamondbacks: Where are they now? … “You've gotta believe!”  —  That was the Diamondbacks' rallying cry over and over throughout a mildly chilly evening on Nov. 4, 2001, at Bank One Ballpark.  It was Sunday, Game 7 of the World Series against the 26-time world champion New York Yankees …

Gabe Kapler pleased with his first camp as Phillies manager  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - The easy part is over for Gabe Kapler and his young Phillies team.  The book on spring training closed Tuesday afternoon following a 5-5 exhibition tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates and, predictably …

Twins putting RHP Phil Hughes on DL to begin season  —  WASHINGTON — Minnesota Twins right-hander Phil Hughes is beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique.  —  Twins manager Paul Molitor said before an exhibition game against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday …

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.

How Ketel Marte's contract extension with Arizona Diamondbacks came to be  —  You don't see many baseball players under the age of 25 signing lengthy contract extensions.  In the age of free agency, locking up talented, young players has become increasingly difficult for MLB teams.

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.

Report: A's concerned top prospect has ligament damage in pitching elbow  —  Less than a week after the A's shut down top prospect A.J. Puk with biceps soreness, it appears the young left-hander may have a more serious injury.  —  According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports …

Nationals put 2B Daniel Murphy, RHP Joaquin Benoit on DL  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have put second baseman Daniel Murphy and right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit on the 10-day disabled list.  —  The Nationals also put righty Koda Glover on the 60-day DL and selected …

M's Scott Servais: Ichiro (calf) ‘not quite at 100 percent yet’  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners are monitoring Ichiro Suzuki's strained right calf to determine whether he'll be on the opening day roster or the disabled list.  —  Suzuki, 44, went -for-3 with a walk …

Cardinals decide Hicks is ready now, promote power pitcher for opening day  —  MONTREAL  • The conversation started Sunday after hotshot rookie Jordan Hicks blistered through the Washington Nationals lineup in a sudden appearance no one expected him to make as recently as last week.

2001 Arizona Diamondbacks: Where are they now? … Following the team's postseason run in 2007, the Diamondbacks made a handful of moves with the biggest being the seven-player blockbuster trade that brought them starting right-handed pitcher Dan Haren from Oakland in exchange for pitchers Brett Anderson …

Will this be the year the Cincinnati Reds finally take a step in the right direction?  —  From the front office to owner's box to clubhouse, the Reds seem to sense that this is year that the franchise has to take a step forward.  —  Call it Rebuilding Fatigue.