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.

Joe Maddon keeping Cubs' opening day lineup under wraps  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Manager Joe Maddon has a good idea of what his opening day lineup will look like Thursday in Miami, but he's not about to reveal it soon.  —  “I don't want to put it out there too soon,” Maddon said 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.

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

Column: Upbeat as ever, Rick Renteria begins Year Two of White Sox rebuild  —  Chicago Tribune  —  You're not going to get many managers as upbeat as Rick Renteria, who sometimes was referred to as Ricky Sunshine during his only season with the Cubs in 2014.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Dodgers Designate Trayce Thompson, Claim Cory Mazzoni From Cubs  —  The Dodgers have claimed right-hander Cory Mazzoni off waivers from the Cubs, the team announced on Twitter.  Mazzoni has been optioned to Triple-A. To create roster space, outfielder Trayce Thompson has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move.