Clark: Some teams make little effort to justify ticket costs  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Players' union head Tony Clark took the extraordinary step of saying baseball fans should question whether it makes sense to purchase tickets for some teams, responding to Commissioner Rob Manfred's assertion …

Cards notebook: Redbirds work on improving defense  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Ozzie Smith, perhaps the best defender in Cardinals history, watched with interest Monday as the club's pitchers went through some bunt defense plays.  —  “The little plays are very important,” the 13-time Gold Glover said.

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.

Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. targets Kendrys Morales as mentor  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — As he headed to his first big league camp with the Toronto Blue Jays, touted phenom Vladimir Guerrero Jr. asked his famous father whether he had any words of wisdom for him.

Paul Goldschmidt exceeding expectations already, Cardinals manager Mike Schildt says  —  Mike Shildt's phone lit up with texts and calls praising the character of Paul Goldschmidt after the Cardinals traded for the slugging first baseman in December.  —  “A lot of times the hyperbole …

Some insight into Woodward's first speech to full squad, and how Rangers received it  —  As always this time of year, Surprise Stadium has turned into the home of the Oregon State Beavers, the defending national champions who have opened their season here for many years running.

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.

Red Sox owner John Henry says spending more tends to helps teams win  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - In apparent contradiction to his own commissioner, Boston Red Sox owner John Henry said Monday that, while there is not a perfect correlation between a bigger payroll and winning, “spending more money helps.”

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.

How Patrick Corbin won the winter  —  Until Bryce Harper and Manny Machado find homes, it's difficult to say which team won the offseason.  Impossible, even.  As for the player who won the winter, well that's a no-brainer.  —  When Patrick Corbin signed with the Washington Nationals …

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.

Mike Trout mum on contract, but feels Angels are poised to ‘make a push’  —  Angels center fielder Mike Trout takes a knee during a spring training practice session in Tempe, Ariz., on Monday.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)  —  A few hours before the Angels assembled Monday morning …

Bryce Harper is the biggest story at Phillies camp, but he's not a Phillie or in camp  —  The Washington Post  —  On the night before the Philadelphia Phillies' first full-squad workout of spring training, as he was still batting around in his head what his message to the assembled players would be, Gabe Kapler's phone kept buzzing.

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.

Healthy Socrates Brito looking to win bench spot with Diamondbacks  —  Socrates Brito enters spring training as a player to watch for the Diamondbacks in large part because he is out of minor-league options, meaning he'd have to be exposed to waivers if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster.

Mike Moustakas Could Play Second Base For Brewers  —  When word of Mike Moustakas' impending return to the Brewers broke, the assumption among many was that the Milwaukee organization would utilize the same defensive alignment as in 2019: Travis Shaw shifting over to second base and Moustakas handling third base.

Miguel Cabrera faces pitcher for 1st time since June arm injury  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Miguel Cabrera hit against a pitcher Monday for the first time since rupturing a tendon in his left biceps on June 12.  —  The 35-year-old hit, fielded, threw and ran the bases during the Detroit Tigers' first full-squad workout of spring training.