Top News:
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Despite lofty expectations, Aaron Judge says he feels no pressure — EDITOR'S PICKS — From Bronx diehards and displaced New Yorkers cheering them on, to rivals rooting against them, when the Yankees are relevant, fans tune in. — Will the Yankees or Indians catch the Astros in the AL?
RELATED:
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone feeling relaxed despite enormous expectations as his first season as Yankees manager begins — TORONTO — Aaron Boone believes he is ready to embark on being only the third manager to hold that title for the Yankees over the past 23 seasons, after they'd infamously gone through 20 dugout changes …
Discussion:
USA Today
John Healy / New York Daily News:
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner says Aaron Judge could be even better, ‘disappointed’ in Greg Bird injury
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
The Evil Empire Strikes Back! Why the Yankees being good is great for baseball
Discussion:
Associated Press, Pinstripe Alley and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Breakout candidates and players who could disappoint in the 2018 MLB season
Steven Marcus / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Yankees run afoul of MLB over player images on beer at Yankee Stadium
Discussion:
The Comeback, NESN.com, Sporting News and Pinstripe Alley
Daniel Popper / New York Daily News:
Yankees in brew-haha over beer foam fiasco
Discussion:
Boston Globe, ESPN and MarketWatch
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB salaries 2018: A 3.5% raise for average major leaguer - but future commitments dipping — TORONTO - The free-agent market was a dud this winter, leaving Major League Baseball players and their agents seething. — Ultimately, baseball's average salary compared to 2017 amounted to a cost-of-living bump …
RELATED:
Jill Painter Lopez / Associated Press:
Dodgers designate OF Trayce Thompson for assignment — LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers have cut outfielder Trayce Thompson, the brother of Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson. — Thompson was competing for a spot in a crowded Los Angeles outfield that includes Chris Taylor, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Joc Pederson and Andrew Toles.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Smooth sailing ahead for the Cubs — at least until October — Chicago Tribune — From Jon Lester's wayward bounce throw to Tommy La Stella's pop-up bounce house, the Cubs got through another spring training with a healthy diet of hard work and comic relief.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
WTAE:
Who are World Series favorites this MLB season? — Astros primed for repeat? Yankees back on top? — COPY LINK — COPY — Few stories in baseball history can match the Houston Astros' charge to the World Series last year, just weeks after Hurricane Harvey devastated the region.
Discussion:
Arizona Sports, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, MLB Daily Dish and ESPN
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
5 things Rangers fans need to know about the Houston Astros ahead of opening day 2018 — Five things to know about the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros, who open a four-game series against the Rangers on Thursday at Globe Life Park: — 1. The Astros won the season series with the Rangers at 12-7 last year.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
First rain delay: Reds reschedule opener vs Nationals — CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds have pushed back their season opener against the Washington Nationals by a day because rain is forecast for all day Thursday. — They'll open on Friday afternoon instead, taking advantage of what was a scheduled day off for both teams.
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Katherine TerrellESPN / ESPN:
Reds push back opener against Nationals to Friday because of weather
Discussion:
Associated Press
Associated Press:
Mets promote Tebow to Double-A after spring training slump — NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Tebow has been promoted to Double-A after going 1 for 18 with 11 strikeouts in big league spring training for the New York Mets. — The Mets said Wednesday that the outfielder has been assigned to start the season at Binghamton of the Eastern League.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Tim Tebow starting season with Mets' Double-A team — Tim Tebow will start the season with the New York Met's Double-A affiliate in Binghamton, the team announced Wednesday. — Tebow, who is entering his second season in the Mets' organization, said in a statement that he is “excited” about the assignment to Binghamton.
Associated Press:
Phillies' Jake Arrieta says no soreness after second spring training start — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jake Arrieta felt fine after his second spring training start with the Philadelphia Phillies, and that was more important than the mediocre results. — Arrieta allowed 4 runs …
Discussion:
Talking Chop, The Good Phight, Amazin' Avenue, Philly.com and Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Phillies eager for opening day, Braves hopes on hold — ATLANTA — The Philadelphia Phillies are eager to get started on a new, winning era. — For the Atlanta Braves, opening day still feels like it's a few weeks away. — The NL East rivals begin the season Thursday at 2-year-old SunTrust Park …
Discussion:
ESPN
Chelsea Janes / Chicago Tribune:
Nationals' Bryce Harper is about to step into the storm that's been brewing his entire life — The Washington Post — One Sunday morning a few years ago, in the well-worn clubhouse at Turner Field, Bryce Harper sat on the edge of the black leather rolling chair at his locker and looked around the near-empty room.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times and Bleacher Nation
RELATED:
Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:
Enjoy the ride, because these Nationals may be as good as they're going to get
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Opening Day survey: $400 million for Harper? A Yankees letdown? MLB execs size up 2018
Discussion:
Washington Post, Bleacher Nation, Let's Go Tribe and Halos Heaven
Associated Press:
Rays' Eovaldi to have arthroscopic surgery on pitching elbow — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has loose bodies in his pitching elbow and will undergo arthroscopic surgery. — The 28-year-old right-hander, expected to be part of the Rays rotation after recovering …
RELATED:
Nick Faris / Toronto Sun:
How the bobblehead became a beloved symbol of baseball season — There is probably no better indicator of how surprisingly good Justin Smoak was in 2017 than the fact he was selected to be a bobblehead this year — As he walked to work on a bright, subzero morning in Toronto last week …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Nick Stellini / Sporting News:
Why the Blue Jays could be a factor in the 2018 playoff race
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Bluebird Banter
Shi Davidi / Sportsnet.ca:
Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s exhibition walk-off a moment worth savouring
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Newsweek
Evan Grossman / New York Daily News:
Mike Francesa and Chris Russo reunite, take digs at WFAN: 'There'll be nobody on WFAN before you know it' — Mike and the Mad Dog poked fun at their struggling former employer Wednesday. — Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, appearing side-by-side on Russo's “High Heat” show on MLB Network …
RELATED:
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Matt Harvey's renewed confidence and coaching changes among reasons to feel good about Mets entering Opening Day — The hot-take reaction to hearing Matt Harvey say the Mets are going to “shock a lot of people” this season is easy: how about proving you can be a decent major-league starter again …
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets manager Mickey Callaway won over clubhouse during spring training
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards remove pitcher, infielder from 40-man roster to add Jordan Hicks, Francisco Pena — NEW YORK • To make room on the 40-man roster for two players who elbowed their way onto the opening day roster, the Cardinals removed one of the few backup lefthanded-hitting infielders …
RELATED:
Daniel Popper / New York Daily News:
AL DNA: Breaking down the analytics of each American League team for the 2018 MLB season — With each passing season, sabermetrics are becoming more and more ingrained in baseball. — Data is becoming increasingly available by the year — more recently with the advent of MLB's Statcast …
