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 …

Carlos Martinez removed from throwing program due to weakness in shoulder  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Some of the same concerns that hounded Carlos Martinez throughout this past season and left the righthanded pitcher “afraid,” in his words, to throw at full strength have resurfaced and halted his spring training.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

It's everyone's favorite Rangers video: Joey Gallo taking batting practice  —  For every tweet about how far Joey Gallo has hit a ball in batting practice, like the times he hits the top of the right-field home-run porch at Globe Life Park, someone out there cracks a joke about if he struck …

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.

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 …

Projecting the Indians' 2019 Opening Day lineup  —  Here is a look at what the Cleveland Indians' opening day lineup could be for the 2019 regular season.  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians went through their first full squad workout of Spring Training at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear …

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.

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 …

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.

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.