Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals set opening roster, remove Lucas, Valera to make room for Hicks, Pena — • After making two moves they hope won't erode the depth they might need later, the Cardinals finalized their 25-man roster for Thursday's opening day at Citi Field. — To make room for Jordan Hicks …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Series preview: Cardinals at New York Mets — • Two of the hardest throwers in the majors will face off in Thursday's series opener when New York's Noah Syndergaard, who touches 100 mph twice as often as any other pitcher, will oppose the Cardinals' Carlos Martinez, who occasionally hits that level.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Opening acts: Cardinals, Mets need young, talented pitchers to contend
Jerry Beach / UPI:
Syndergaard leads Mets into opener vs. Cardinals
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Viva El Birdos
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 …
Discussion:
Over the Monster, DRaysBay and True Blue LA
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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:
Bluebird Banter, Pinstripe Alley and ESPN
ESPN:
Troy Tulowitzki placed on 60-day DL with bone spurs in heel — The Toronto Blue Jays placed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the 60-day disabled list Thursday as they set their 25-man roster for Opening Day. — Tulowitzki has been dealing with bilateral heel bone spurs and was scheduled to see a specialist on Wednesday.
Larry Millson / UPI:
Yankees ready to get season started vs. Blue Jays
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Pinstripe Alley
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Tampa Bay Rays hope modest investment in Nathan Eovaldi pays big
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Associated Press:
Japanese baseball stars returning home from MLB to extend careers … Daisuke Matsuzaka says he still has something to prove. — Koji Uehara wants to help his former team regain its past glory. — The two former U.S. major leaguers are among several Japanese stars that will be looking …
RELATED:
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
New-look Royals open versus White Sox — Kansas City Royals lost a couple key contributors during the offseason when — San Diego Padres and Lorenzo Cain joined the — Milwaukee Brewers. — Then the Royals learned this week that they lost five-time All-Star catcher
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and South Side Sox
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73 — In every way, Rusty Staub, the beloved Mets' hitting icon, who passed away early Thursday morning at age 73, was bigger than life — a bigger-than-life baseball personality, humanitarian, gourmet chef, wine connoisseur, friend-to-all and …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors, globalnews.ca, Faith and Fear in Flushing and Amazin' Avenue
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Marlowe Alter / Detroit Free Press:
Former Detroit Tigers All-Star Rusty Staub dies at 73 — Former Detroit Tigers All-Star Rusty Staub died early Thursday morning at 73 years old. — Staub, who would have turned 74 on Sunday, died from multiple organ failure in Palm Beach, Fla, according to the The New York Daily News.
Discussion:
USA Today, Detroit News and New York Times
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Sources: Cardinals working to close a deal with Greg Holland — NEW YORK • A few days after suggesting they were ready to go into the regular season without a closer and throw a variety of pitchers at the ninth inning, including rookie Jordan Hicks, the Cardinals have made a move to answer their biggest question.
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets have discussed adding reliever Greg Holland, according to sources
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Game Day: Arizona Diamondbacks open 2018 season against Colorado Rockies — The Arizona Diamondbacks open the 2018 regular season against the Colorado Rockies. Follow this page for updates, news and analysis throughout the series. — PREVIEW: Diamondbacks' lineup looks thin with Steven Souza injured
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and Purple Row
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Associated Press:
Tigers-Pirates opener postponed because of weather — DETROIT — The season opener between the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates has been postponed because of bad weather. — The game has been pushed back to Friday. — The Tigers announced the postponement about four hours …
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: How to follow Opening Day game
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
ESPN:
Giants place closer Mark Melancon on 10-day DL with elbow injury — The San Francisco Giants placed closer Mark Melancon on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a right elbow flexor strain. — The move was made retroactive to March 26. Right-hander Reyes Moronta was recalled from Triple-A to fill his roster spot.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and McCovey Chronicles
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs not taking Marlins, or any team, for granted — Chicago Tribune — The Marlins may have as many as a dozen players participating in opening-day festivities for the first time. — Their No. 2 starter, Caleb Smith, was a Rule 5 pick whom the Cubs returned to the Yankees last spring.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds send DeSclafani to 60-day DL, four to 10-day; Reed, Stephens called up — The Reds roster is finally set. It took a spate of moves, but it's set. — “We're used to juggling on certain things,” President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams said. “We juggled a little uncertainty.
Rotoworld.com:
Salvy Sidelined — Salvador Perez has been the most durable catcher in the majors over the past five seasons, but he's going to get a late start on his 2018 campaign after suffering a Grade 2 MLC tear in his left knee. — According to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and MLB Baseball News …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Anthony Rizzo urges stricter gun laws and defends ‘bullied’ Stoneman Douglas students — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs wore Stoneman Douglas High Schol T-shirts before Thursday's opener to honor the victims of the mass shooting on Feb. 14, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo lauded the student activists for speaking out on our gun laws.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees place Greg Bird, Jacoby Ellsbury and Clint Frazier on disabled list ahead of Opening Day — TORONTO — The Yankees made the following roster moves prior to Opening Day: — Greg Bird was placed on the 10-day disabled list after undergoing right ankle surgery on Tuesday.
Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
Phillies turn to social media in search for new lefty batting practice pitcher … One lucky Phillies fan could soon get the opportunity to toss batting practice at Citizens Bank Park all season. — The Phillies announced on Twitter Wednesday night they are accepting applications for a new left-handed batting practice pitcher.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Deadspin and CBS Philly
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
A healthy Garrett Richards opens Angels' season with optimism — OAKLAND — On a team whose starting pitchers have been victims of a raft of injuries over the past few years, Garrett Richards stands alone in a couple ways. — He's had the most serious injuries. He's also performed the best when healthy.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and Daily News
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs finalize 25-man roster with Eddie Butler part of the 13-man pitching staff — Chicago Tribune — The need for a second long reliever resulted in the Cubs' decision to add Eddie Butler to their opening day roster announced Thursday morning. — Butler completes a 13-man pitching staff …
