Top News:
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:
Associated Press:
Judge and Stanton eager to get started as Yankees teammates — TORONTO — After a winter of waiting, the New York Yankees are ready to roll with two of baseball's best sluggers. — Aaron Judge and newcomer Giancarlo Stanton will bat second and third when the Yankees open against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
Discussion:
ESPN
Daniel Popper / New York Daily News:
Yankees in brew-haha over beer foam fiasco — Looks like the Yankees found themselves in a brew-haha the day before Opening Day. — An overzealous vendor got a little too crafty with the beer foam - imprinting the faces of some of their most popular players (including Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge) …
Discussion:
The Comeback, Newsday and Sporting News
RELATED:
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone feeling relaxed despite enormous expectations as his first season as Yankees manager begins
Discussion:
USA Today
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Despite lofty expectations, Aaron Judge says he feels no pressure
Discussion:
Washington Post
J.P. Hoornstra / Orange County Register:
Freeway Series finale leaves a stench as sewer water floods Dodger Stadium — LOS ANGELES — At 8:57 p.m. Tuesday, a small pool of liquid appeared on the dirt warning track just beyond the third-base dugout at Dodger Stadium. The smell of raw sewage began to permeate the air.
Discussion:
Daily News, MLB Baseball News … and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
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
Associated Press:
Ready or not: Mets, rookie manager set to open vs Cardinals — NEW YORK (AP) — No more practice runs for Mickey Callaway. — Opening day has arrived for the rookie manager of the New York Mets, and his heart probably will be pounding at a mile a minute by the time Noah Syndergaard fires …
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
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:
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:
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
RELATED:
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, Phillies Nation and Philly.com
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:
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:
MLB Baseball News … and 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
Dave Brown / Chicago Tribune:
James Shields hopes to help White Sox surge as he did with Royals — Chicago Tribune — Shooting the breeze in the visitor's dugout with teammates, coaches and staff during a club workout Wednesday afternoon, White Sox right-hander James Shields looked back fondly on his two seasons with the Royals.
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets have discussed adding reliever Greg Holland, according to sources — The Mets may have one big more up their sleeve. — The team has recently discussed adding free agent closer Greg Holland, according to sources. Holland is the top remaining free agent pitcher.
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:
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
Kevin Acee / Baltimore Sun:
Winning always goal, but Padres' 2018 season mostly about waiting — Wil Myers says this with the intent of being both optimistic and realistic. — “We're playing in a great division,” Myers said. “We might be picked last, even though the guys we have here are better (than recent seasons).
