Top News:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
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.
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Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Yu Darvish admits to feeling pressure with Cubs last year — MESA, Ariz. — Saying he's in a better place both mentally and physically this spring, Chicago Cubs righty Yu Darvish is looking to rebound after a season to forget in 2018. Poor performance gave way to an elbow injury last season, but he says that's all behind him now.
Dick Scanlon / Detroit Free Press:
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.
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers aren't thinking rebuild, they're thinking World Series
Detroit Tigers aren't thinking rebuild, they're thinking World Series
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How a knee brace is helping Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer improve
How a knee brace is helping Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer improve
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers, Michael Fulmer have salary arbitration hearing Wednesday
Detroit Tigers, Michael Fulmer have salary arbitration hearing Wednesday
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
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.
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
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.
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks say Zack Greinke's spring training arrival will be delayed — Diamondbacks pitchers and catchers took the field for their first workout of spring training on Wednesday morning. And they will be do so without their ace. — Right-hander Zack Greinke was not listed …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Diamondbacks Sign Caleb Joseph
Diamondbacks Sign Caleb Joseph
Discussion:
Camden Chat and AZ Snake Pit
David Schoenfeld / ESPN:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
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.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
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Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
Report: Cleveland Indians SP Trevor Bauer wins arbitration case, will make $13 million in 2019
Report: Cleveland Indians SP Trevor Bauer wins arbitration case, will make $13 million in 2019
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Omar Vizquel: Sandy Alomar Jr. should be ready to be big-league manager
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
No longer marooned on rehab, Cardinals rookie Alex Reyes takes the mound on Day 1
No longer marooned on rehab, Cardinals rookie Alex Reyes takes the mound on Day 1
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Sean McAdam / Boston Sports Journal:
Source - Red Sox seeking starting pitching help as they shop catchers — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Last month, Dave Dombrowski predicted the Red Sox would move one of their three catchers before the start of the regular season, but with the opener just a little more than six weeks away, their trade market remains largely undefined.
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, Bleacher Nation and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
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.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and Chicago Tribune
Patrick Reusse / The Charlotte Observer:
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 …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
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.
Associated Press:
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 …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, NBCSports.com and NESN.com
Associated Press:
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 …
Pedro Gomez / ESPN:
Angels' Matt Harvey says he'll be better teammate, player going forward — TEMPE, Ariz. — There was a time, not long ago, when Matt Harvey was the premier pitcher in all of baseball, headlining a young Mets rotation that also featured Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.