Top News:
ESPN:
Manny Machado, San Diego Padres reach 10-year, $300 million deal — Manny Machado has agreed to the biggest free-agent contract in American sports history — a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres, league sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution and baseballmusings.com
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Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Philly.com, Baltimore Sun, True Blue LA and Lone Star Ball
Ronald Blum / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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 …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Padres Agree To Terms With Manny Machado — 12:58pm: There are some key elements of the deal still to be worked out, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link). Notably, the sides have yet to hammer out terms on trade protection. That said, it seems the final pieces are not expected …
Discussion:
Chicago Sun-Times, Phillies Nation and The Ringer
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
The pros and cons of suitors for Bryce Harper, Manny Machado — OK, one more time, let's reset everything and check in with our two favorite free agents. It has been 114 days and counting since Chris Sale struck out Manny Machado for the final out of the World Series.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight and Let's Go Tribe
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mikolas to start exhibition opener — perhaps in Milwaukee, too? — JUPITER, Fla. • Nearly a year to the day Miles Mikolas made his Cardinals debut in ragged fashion in front of family and friends in Jupiter, where he grew up and still lives, Mikolas will be the first Cardinals pitcher to the mound Saturday.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carlos Martinez removed from throwing program due to weakness in shoulder
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation
Alex Reimer / WEEI:
Pitchers' opposition to pitch clock is selfish and short-sighted — Red Sox pitchers can say they love their fans, but their opposition to the pitch clock shows their words are nothing more than lip service. It is selfish behavior to expect people to wait 25.2 seconds between pitches …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Over the Monster and DodgerBlue.com
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
'How many minutes is it literally saving? Five minutes, maybe? I'm not a fan of it' — The pitch clock is coming to spring training, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that the Cactus League and Grapefruit League rollout is for players and umpires to get acclimated for possible implementation this season.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Today in Cards camp: Reyes to face hitters for first time since May — JUPITER, Fla. • Alex Reyes, limited to four big-league innings the past two seasons as he endured two surgeries, will face hitters for the first time since he pitched in Milwaukee last May 30 when he throws …
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Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Terry Francona: Versatile players ‘can save roster’ for Indians — Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona believes versatile players ‘can save a roster’ that is thin on depth. — CLEVELAND — It has long been said that for athletes, “The best ability is availability,” …
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Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Royals OF Brett Phillips: I need to go back to who I was — The Royals front office saw possibilities in outfielder Brett Phillips when they acquired him from Milwaukee in the Mike Moustakas trade, but for now decision-makers and fans find themselves waiting for Phillips to exhale.
RELATED:
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Royals hoping to make fans remember September with their early play in 2019
Discussion:
Royals Review
J.P. Hoornstra / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:
Dodgers great Don Newcombe dies at 92 — Don Newcombe, who helped the Brooklyn Dodgers win the 1955 World Series and was a regular presence at Dodger Stadium as a special advisor, died on Tuesday. He was 92. — Newcombe passed away after a long illness, according to a statement released by the Dodgers.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and True Blue LA
Ben Reiter / Sports Illustrated:
Trevor Bauer Is More Concerned With Being Right Than Being Liked — He's the ultimate self-made star: an average (if that) athlete who leveraged a sharp baseball intellect and obsession with data into a Cy Young candidacy. He knows a whole lot more than the rest of us.
Marly Rivera / ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Eddie Matz / ESPN:
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 …
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Scooter Gennett isn't happy Cincinnati Reds haven't gotten back to him about an extension — GOODYEAR, Arizona - There was a time last season when it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Scooter Gennett would come to camp with a contract extension. — Gennett thought so …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets wooed Adeiny Hechavarria on Valentine's Day to sign vet infielder — PORT ST. LUCIE - As the hot stove season cooled down and the Mets 40-man roster slowly came into focus, a missing piece in shortstop depth gawked back at them. — Brodie Van Wagenen, Mickey Callaway and Jim Riggleman went …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Rajai Davis signs minors deal with Mets, but sees opportunity in majors — Brodie Van Wagenen on the Mets' depth — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Rajai Davis didn't hold back in describing his 2018 season. — “It was a bad year,” Davis said Monday. “I had a bad year, so I worked all offseason …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
NY Mets ace Jacob deGrom draws criticism from Yankees' Luis Severino — Jacob deGrom discusses his contract talks with the Mets — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jacob deGrom isn't concerned with Luis Severino's analysis of how he should handle himself in his contract negotiations.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Why Yankees expect Miguel Andujar to fix pitiful defense — TAMPA — Position players were not even required to work out Monday, but already Miguel Andujar was out on the backfields putting in extra work. The American League Rookie of the Year finalist was taking balls at third base, working on his approach to the ball.
