Cubs closer Brandon Morrow to miss beginning of season  —  MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs closer Brandon Morrow confirmed he'll miss the beginning of the season after undergoing minor elbow surgery in November.  The oft-injured Morrow missed the final three months of 2018.

Detroit Tigers' Matt Moore on new team, welcoming new baby this spring  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Matt Moore's mind isn't just on spring training.  —  He traveled to Tampa, where his wife his due to give birth any day now, then returned to Lakeland for the Detroit Tigers' first workout.

Cubs' Jon Lester says it's a ‘sad time’ with Bryce Harper, Manny Machado still unsigned  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Cubs starter Jon Lester said he's not involved in talks designed to break the free-agent iceberg but acknowledged it's a “sad time” when superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are among about 100 unsigned players.

Chris Sale sees room for improvement for Red Sox in '19: For him not to miss time due to injury  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - The 2018 season ended with the Boston Red Sox celebrating their World Series title in a cramped clubhouse at Dodger Stadium and Chris Sale ordering the media out of the room …

Archie Bradley hoping healthy nail leads to hammer curve for Diamondbacks  —  Not long before Christmas two off-seasons ago, Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley tried to stop a car door from closing and his right index finger paid the price.  He smashed it, and Bradley wound up with a severely cracked fingernail.

Projecting Indians' starting rotation after pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training  —  Here is a look at what the Cleveland Indians' starting rotation could be heading into the 2019 season after pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training Tuesday.

Shildt is fine with Molina not catching for a while  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Nine-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glover Yadier Molina did not catch any of the 16 Cardinals pitchers who threw bullpen sessions between rain drops Wednesday in the first official workout of batterymen at the club's spring training camp here.

Red Sox expect Kimbrel closer to emerge from within roster  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston expects its new closer to emerge from the current Red Sox roster.  —  All-Star Craig Kimbrel turned down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the World Series champions, and the seven-time All-Star remains a free agent.

Chicago Cubs, Sinclair to launch sports network in 2020  —  CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group are launching a regional sports network in 2020 that will be the team's exclusive TV home.  —  The Cubs said Wednesday the Marquee Sports Network will carry live game broadcasts and pregame and postgame coverage.

Even Pirates optimistic as spring training starts  —  BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Optimism always runs high on the first day of spring training, even for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  —  “This club has a feel that we can be a postseason team, that we can be a team that can advance deep in the postseason …

Rays continue to find ways to succeed against overwhelming odds  —  Fifteen of the younger pitching candidates for the Tampa Bay Rays were gathered for a workout last month at Tropicana Field, the team's home dome.  —  Several were anonymous to non-students of the Rays organization …

Reds manager David Bell plans hands-on approach as long as his shoulder cooperates  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Reds manager David Bell plans to be a hands-on manager - as much as his right shoulder allows.  That will include throwing batting practice, hitting fungos and working with fielders.

Daisuke Matsuzaka suffers shoulder injury at fan event in Okinawa  —  TOKYO — Daisuke Matsuzaka has dealt with numerous arm injuries during his career as a pitcher in Major League Baseball and in Japan, but none quite like this.  —  The Chunichi Dragons say Matsuzaka is experiencing pain …

Yankees' Aaron Boone expecting big things from Gary Sanchez  —  TAMPA, Fla. — A mid-winter trip to the Dominican Republic has New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone fully convinced that his catcher's largely atrocious 2018 season will give way to a dramatically better one this year.