Column: White Sox prospect Nick Madrigal's incredible bat control could fast-track him to the majors: ‘I was raised to put the ball in play’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Though he won't be mentioned in the same breath as Manny Machado anytime soon, Nick Madrigal could be the hit of White Sox camp if he lives up to the hype.

Willson Contreras on Cubs' wild-card loss: ‘We needed that kick in the butt’  —  Infielder David Bote discusses the importance of each game this season for the Cubs during a workout at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., on Monday, Feb. 11, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Three things to watch from the Los Angeles Angels at spring training  —  A brief look at what to expect from the Arizona Diamondbacks at Cactus League spring training.  Information regarding spring training venues, tickets and reporting dates can be found here.  —  Los Angeles Angels

Stephen Vogt agrees to minors deal with Giants  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Free-agent catcher Stephen Vogt is returning to the Bay Area, agreeing to a minor league contract with the Giants.  —  Vogt shared the news in a text message Monday, when he was en route to the club's spring training complex in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Detroit Tigers avoiding big risks by not spending big money.  Here's why  —  Spring training starts this week in Florida and Arizona but not all of baseball's best players will be showing up.  More than 50 veteran free agents have yet to sign deals as they wait for the market to thaw.

Cards reliever Leone hopes his luck continues to change  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The locker of righthanded reliever Dominic Leone has been moved down a few stalls in the Cardinals' clubhouse and now he is next to the hardest thrower in the game, Jordan Hicks.  —  “Hmmm,” said Leone.

Pirates announce deal with Melky Cabrera  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their minor league contract with outfielder Melky Cabrera, who will report to major league spring training.  —  If added to the 40-man roster, the 34-year-old would get a one-year contract …

Season-long tribute planned to pioneering 1869 Red Stockings  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds are fashionably celebrating the 150th anniversary of the professional baseball-pioneering Red Stockings team.

Yankees reliever Zack Britton now using legal spelling of first name  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Even Zack Britton gets confused about the proper spelling of his first name.  —  Known throughout his baseball career as Zach, the 31-year-old New York Yankees reliever said last week that going forward his name should be spelled Zack.

Ducks fire Randy Carlyle, name GM Bob Murray interim coach  —  Team's seventh consecutive loss, last-place standing finally result in dismissal  —  ANAHEIM - Patience was shown.  But after losing their seventh consecutive game Saturday and 19th in their past 21 games …

The burning questions for the Texas Rangers entering spring training we need answered  —  It's that time again.  The Rangers are headed to spring training in Surprise, Ariz., with some important questions facing them.  —  The first few weeks of spring training, and, let's face it, the first …

Nick Hundley agrees to minor league deal with A's  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Oakland Athletics added depth at catcher on Monday, agreeing to a minor league contract with Nick Hundley.  —  If added to the 40-man roster, the 35-year-old would get a one-year contract paying a $1.25 million salary while in the major leagues.

‘The Cardinals are going to live to regret this.’ 37 years ago today, they traded for Ozzie Smith  —  Editors note: On Feb. 11, 1982, the Cardinals made the trade that turned future Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie “The Wizard” Smith into a Redbird for most of his career.

Reliever Brad Brach, Cubs finalize $3M deal  —  CHICAGO — Brad Brach and the Chicago Cubs have finalized a one-year contract that guarantees the reliever $3 million and could be worth $8 million over two seasons.  —  Brach gets a $1.65 million salary this year and could earn $1.35 million …

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to visit Cincinnati for Reds' Opening Day  —  Among details revealed in an article by the Associated Press' Dan Sewell about the upcoming season-long tribute planned to the 1869 Red Stockings: Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred will be in Cincinnati …

Twins' young core players in line for multiyear contracts  —  The club is trying to give them security with deals through arbitration-eligible seasons.  —  TEXT SIZE  —  FORT MYERS, FLA. - The Twins are working to sign some of their young players to multiyear contracts and could announce some of those deals by the end of the week.