Cubs GM Jed Hoyer amused by his old team's megadeal for Manny Machado: 'I hope they're successful'  —  Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer discusses infielder Manny Machado signing with the Padres, the team for whom Machado previously served as GM, on Feb. 19, 2019, at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)

Jed Lowrie knee soreness shows why Mets value roster depth  —  Jed Lowrie on his left knee soreness  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — After the Mets signed Jed Lowrie last month, attention shifted toward whether the team would look to move veteran infielder Todd Frazier.

Marvelous ‘Billy Backhand’ leads Wainwright's team to Cardinals fielding crown  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The word Cardinals manager Mike Shildt came up with to describe the schedule for pitchers Wednesday at spring training was succinct and telling.  —  “Madness is going to be going on,” he said.

Bunt could become key part of Indians' offense in 2019  —  With time to work on other skills because of injury, Francisco Lindor and Bradley Zimmer have been challenged to become better bunters.  —  CLEVELAND — It is all about turning a negative into a positive for the Cleveland Indians on the injury front.

Exclusive: MLB Set to Pass New Rules Designed to Crack Down on Sign Stealing  — Rob Manfred believed that the paranoia surrounding sign stealing was slowing down the game.  Expect these rules to be in place by the beginning of the season.  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Major League Baseball is cracking down on high-tech sign stealing.

Bochy on Pence: 'He's so genuine, and I'm thankful that I had him for seven years'  —  A day after Hunter Pence praised his soon-to-be-retired former manager following his workout at Texas Rangers spring training, that former manager returned the favor.  —  “I'm not answering any questions …

Aaron Judge ready to grab bigger leadership role with Yankees  —  TAMPA - A lot of fans already call him their captain.  The sign that greets Tampa outside George M. Steinbrenner Field makes it clear that Aaron Judge is the face of the Yankees.  —  But is the 26-year-old ready to be a leader on this team?

A's looking at Robbie Grossman as potential leadoff man  —  file photo showing Robbie Grossman of the Oakland Athletics baseball team.  The Athletics will take a look at Grossman as a potential leadoff man when they open spring play.  —  MESA, ARIZ.  —  The Oakland Athletics will take a look …

Detroit Tigers podcast: What to watch for 2019 spring training, season  —  Are you subscribed to our “Talkin' Tigers” podcast?  If not, you should be: Subscribe via iTunes or Google Play now.  —  In the season debut, Anthony Fenech recaps the offseason, gives us a look at what to watch …

In a rotation full of Tommy John surgeries, here's what fans should expect from Rangers' new starters  —  The latest installment of #EvanHelpUs...  With little chance of signing pending free agent Clayton Kershaw, why won't the Rangers spend money on a front-line pitcher like Dallas Keuchel?

Nationals wants Trea Turner to attempt more steals in 2019.  A lot more.  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If base stealing were a simple science, maybe Trea Turner would run every time he had the chance to.  —  But it's more complicated than that, even for one of the fastest players in baseball such as Turner.

Everything Went Right For The 2018 Red Sox.  Are The Champs Destined To Regress?  —  It's hard to imagine things going more right for the Boston Red Sox than they did last season.  Boston jumped out to a scorching 17-2 start, was 38 games over .500 by the All-Star break …

MLB 2019 preview: Three things to know for every team  —  As MLB teams are enjoying their spring training camps in Florida and Arizona, USA TODAY Sports takes a look at some of the most important factoids for all 30 clubs.  —  While plenty of negative story lines dominated the winter …

Column: Are you a disillusioned Cubs fan who wants to become a White Sox fan?  Here's how to do that.  —  Photos of the White Sox at spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., before the 2019 season.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  So the Cubs no longer are the team you've known and loved all these years.

Former top prospects Byron Buxton, Tyler Glasnow finally ready to break out in 2019  —  Not all minor league prospects, even the most highly regarded ones, have instant success once they reach the majors.  With all the hype and sky-high expectations behind them, it's sometimes easier for players to break out a few years down the road.

MLB starting pitcher tiers: New wave of aces rises above game's changes  —  When you think about it, pitchers are kind of pre-sorted into tiers through the machinations of their managers and organizations.  No. 1 starter, No. 2 starter, opener, bulk guy, LOOGY, closer, set-up man …