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5:50 PM ET, February 18, 2019

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 Top News: 
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Why didn't Cubs throw money at big free agents?  'We don't have any more'  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs' apology tour continued Monday when chairman Tom Ricketts talked to the team about the embarrassment brought on by his father's racist emails being publicly exposed, vowing that the team will become lovable once again.
RELATED:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:   Tom Ricketts: Cubs didn't spend money in offseason because, 'we don't have any more'
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Cubs' rash of off-field controversies could give team the motivation it needs
Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune:   5 takeaways from Cubs and White Sox spring training
Tom Ricketts / Associated Press:
Cubs patriarch's very offensive emails lead to son's team apology
Discussion: Deadspin
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs' week ahead includes Tom Ricketts' annual speech, labor talk and the Cactus League opener
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Noah Syndergaard ready to listen if NY Mets want to make a deal  —  Brodie Van Wagenen on the Mets' depth  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — If the New York Mets want to talk, Noah Syndergaard will listen.  —  Syndergaard, 26, is one of the sport's top young pitchers and under contract through 2021.
Discussion: SNY
RELATED:
Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Noah Syndergaard is open to Mets extension since seeing ‘scary’ Machado, Harper fiasco  —  Move over, Jacob deGrom — there's another Amazin' Met clamoring for a new deal.  —  Though no inning-limit threats are in play like his fellow ace, Noah Syndergaard indicated he'd be willing to listen …
Daily Record:
Mickey Callaway and Brodie Van Wagenen address team at Mets camp  —  Todd Frazier describes the message in the team's speeches Monday  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — During his initial spring training speech Monday morning, Mets manager Mickey Callaway asked those with playoff experience to stand up.
Randy Miller / New Jersey Online:
Yankees' Luis Severino miffed over Jacob deGrom's innings-limit threat: 'He's making $17 million!'
Discussion: SNY, Fox News and The Sports Daily
ESPN:   Adeiny Hechavarria agrees to minor league deal with Mets, per reports
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Giancarlo Stanton talks about growing comfort in AL, playing games that matter  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Now that he's playing in the Bronx, the stretch between May and October has a much different significance to Giancarlo Stanton.  It's one he's incredibly thankful for, too.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Pivotal Yankees questions linger as Aaron Judge and Co. report to camp
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:   ‘One of those days you look forward to,’ Aaron Boone says as Yankees players report
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Kris Bryant happy to clear the air with Yadier Molina over comments about St. Louis  —  MESA, Ari.  — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said he's more than happy to clear the air with Yadier Molina after offseason comments made by Bryant about the city of St. Louis raised the ire of the Cardinals' All-Star catcher.
RELATED:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cubs' Kris Bryant says ‘St. Louis is so boring’ comment was ‘taken totally out of context’
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Kris Bryant says his ‘St. Louis is so boring’ comment was taken out of context
Chicago Tribune:
Padres offer Manny Machado an 8-year deal worth at least $240 million: reports  —  Look out, White Sox.  It appears the Padres are serious about signing free-agent infielder Manny Machado.  —  The Padres have offered Machado an eight-year contract worth at least $240 million, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
How David Robertson negotiated his own contract with Phillies during a never-ending free-agent winter
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:   Padres make big offer to free agent Manny Machado
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Monday in Cards camp: Cecil has trouble throwing strikes, but he was sick  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Lefthander Brett Cecil was the first Cardinals' pitcher to face hitters Monday.  He didn't throw many strikes, perhaps two out of 15 or so pitches in his stint, but he became ill while he was warming …
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Focus on Goldschmidt and Field 2 for the Cardinals' first day of full-scale drills
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   J. Martinez, Gyorko would be hard to leave off Cardinals
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
'There's no more excuses.' Four core Rangers players are ready to grow up in 2019  —  These are perilous times for the Texas Rangers, who are trying to produce young talent that can lift the franchise back to where it was the last time it went through a rebuilding phase.
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Ben Revere in Rangers camp with Triple-A deal
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:   The Rangers are now Elvis' team. He is one of five position players to watch this spring
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants manager Bruce Bochy will retire after the 2019 season  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Bruce Bochy, who managed the Giants to three World Series championships in a career that is destined to land him in the Hall of Fame, announced Monday that he will retire after the 2019 season, his 13th with the club and 25th as a big-league manager.
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Bruce Bochy To Retire After 2019 Season
Associated Press:
Jorge Posada: Joining Derek Jeter with Marlins is ‘Perfect timing’  —  JUPITER, Fla. — A black cap with the Miami Marlins' new neon logo sat atop Jorge Posada's graying hair Monday, a jarring sight for fans who recall he spent his entire playing career with the New York Yankees.
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Source says Moustakas, Brewers nearing a deal  —  Source: Moustakas, Brewers nearing a deal  —  Mike Moustakas and the Brewers are nearing a deal that would keep the third baseman in Milwaukee for a guarantee of $10 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Steve Simmons / Toronto Sun:
Remarkable story of Rick Langford, complete-game king  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Aaron Sanchez remembers the game well, the way it almost ended.  —  He pitched into the ninth inning for one of the few times in his career and came close to throwing a complete game.  —  “I was tiring and I knew it,” said Sanchez.
Associated Press:
Reds' Joey Votto tries to rebound from subpar season  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Joey Votto has spent the offseason trying to make sure he doesn't have another subpar season.  —  The Cincinnati Reds star led the National League in on-base percentage last year but hit just 12 homers …
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner says Boston, Chris Sale have discussed contract extension  —  Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner says Boston,  —  Chris Sale have discussed contract extension originally appeared on  —  Chris Sale's 2018 season was everything the Red Sox hoped for, and more.
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Rookie Davis, former Reds pitcher, reaches minor-league deal with Pittsburgh Pirates  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Monday that they've signed former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rookie Davis to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league Spring Training.
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
MLBPA director: Teams aren't even trying to ‘justify the price of a ticket’  —  As full-squad workouts get underway in Florida and Arizona with top free agents still unsigned, Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark issued a scathing statement in response to commissioner Rob Manfred's comments Sunday.
Discussion: DodgerBlue.com
 
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 More News: 
Associated Press:
Angels owner Arte Moreno: New Mike Trout deal has been subject of internal talks
Discussion: ESPN
Mike Florio / ProFootballTalk:
Patriots' interest in OBJ made Giants think twice about trading him
Discussion: CBS Boston and NESN.com
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Reds, Derek Dietrich Agree To Minor League Deal
Discussion: Bleacher Nation and Red Reporter
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Rockies' Ian Desmond facing big challenge playing center field at Coors Field
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
No Manny Machado, no problem: Dellin Betances trusts the Yankees plan
 Earlier Picks: 
John Romano / Tampa Bay Times:
Why there are still reasons to applaud Delmon Young in Tampa Bay
Discussion: Tampa Bay Times
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer: No hard feelings after arbitration loss
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox spring training updates: The whole family is back together
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros to move Yuli Gurriel around during spring training
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dodgers' Kenley Jansen hoping higher spin rate will help him sizzle
 

 
From WeSmirch:

US Food and Drug Administration:
Grimmway Farms Recalls Organic Whole and Select Organic Baby Carrots That May Be in Consumers' Homes Due to Potential E. coli Contamination

People:
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard Shares Details from Her Baby Shower — Including Daughter's Name: ‘I Felt Supported’ (Exclusive)

Jess Cohen / E! Online:
Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors Are Engaged: See Her Ring

 
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