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7:15 AM ET, February 20, 2019

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 Top News: 
Associated Press:
Former Dodgers great Don Newcombe has died at 92  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Don Newcombe, the hard-throwing Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher who was one of the first black players in the major leagues and who went on to win the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, has died.
RELATED:
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
South Florida's Machado, Padres agree to $300M, 10-year deal, reports say  —  SAN DIEGO - Hialeah's own Manny Machado is reportedly about to become a very rich man.  —  The former Orioles and Dodgers infielder, by way of Miami Brito, has reportedly agreed to a massive mega-deal with the San Diego Padres.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees never even made Manny Machado an offer.  They just weren't a fit  —  TAMPA — Manny Machado could not have landed any further away from the Yankees.  After meeting with the Bombers this winter as part of his tour of potential suitors, the All-Star shortstop agreed to a record deal with the Padres.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers get first look at Casey Mize: 'He's impressive'  —  A slow motion look at Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera's swing in Lakeland.  Fla., during spring training.  —  CONNECT11  —  TWEET11  —  COMMENT11  —  EMAIL11  —  MORE11
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:   Detroit Tigers observations: Grayson Greiner smashes HRs on backfields
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright pleased with first chance against hitters  —  • Longtime Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, who absorbed criticism from Commissioner Rob Manfred and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry this week after offering up his frustration at the lack of movement in free agency and saying he feared …
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Mikolas to start exhibition opener — perhaps in Milwaukee, too?
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carlos Martinez removed from throwing program due to weakness in shoulder
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds sign utility player Derek Dietrich to minor league deal  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - With Alex Blandino recovering from knee surgery, the Reds added some insurance to their infield depth Tuesday and signed Derek Dietrich to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Scooter Gennett isn't happy Cincinnati Reds haven't gotten back to him about an extension
Steve Simmons / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays' Pillar missing Gibbons but appreciates Montoyo  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Kevin Pillar's favourite athletes — Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, Cal Ripken — were all one-team wonders.  —  Now, knowing he's not exactly in the Hall of Fame company of his favourites, he would like to emulate …
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Steve Simmons / Toronto Sun:
Question in Dunedin is who and where are Jays outfielders?  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Somewhere in between the constant smiling of manager Charlie Montoyo and the unbridled optimism surrounding just about everything Vladimir Guerrero Jr. does, an important piece of reality gets lost in all this Blue Jays excitement.
ESPN:
MLB putting new rules in place to curtail sign stealing, source says  —  Major League Baseball is putting new rules in place this season to guard against high-tech sign stealing, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan, confirming an SI.com report.  —  After several incidents of alleged stealing …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Yasmany Tomas seeing time at first base in camp could increase chances of making Diamondbacks' roster  —  The odds still appear stacked against Yasmany Tomas when it comes to his chances of making the Opening Day roster, but the Diamondbacks are opening a possible avenue for it to happen.
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.
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Alex Reimer / WEEI:
Pitchers' opposition to pitch clock is selfish and short-sighted
Kent Somers / Arizona Republic:
There will be no failing to communicate from Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo  —  This Diamondbacks season will be defined by change.  There are new faces throughout the clubhouse, and on the field a handful of familiar ones will be playing in unfamiliar places.
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's advice is to be patient, stay calm about unsigned players  —  The first domino at the top of baseball's free-agent market finally toppled Tuesday morning, when Manny Machado agreed to a 10-year, $300-million contract with the San Diego Padres.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Clint Frazier is already gunning for Brett Gardner's job  —  Clint Frazier is already impressing Aaron Boone.  The young outfielder is trying to push his way onto the 25-man roster and eventually win the left field job over Brett Gardner.  —  But first, Frazier, who missed most of 2018 …
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,” …
RELATED:
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:   Projecting the Indians' 2019 Opening Day lineup
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge is ‘100 percent’ healthy and out for blood, bad news for Yankees' opponents  —  TAMPA — Aaron Judge began the spring with a few swings in the cage, a few bunts and line drives.  Then the Yankees' slugger hammered a few balls over the fence to the cheers of fans who had filled …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone is giddy to start spring, but there's a target on his back with championship expectations  —  TAMPA — Aaron Boone's excitement had him tweeting “let's go!” early Tuesday morning.  The Yankee manager was just happy to finally have his entire squad in one place ready to get to work.
 
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 More News: 
Daily Record:
Mets' Michael Conforto hoping to carry strong 2018 finish into this season
Cristina Fletes / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carlos Martinez  —  Cristina M. Fletes is a photographer/videographer …
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Music to Mets ears at spring training just another culture change in Mickey Callaway's second season
J.P. Hoornstra / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:
Dodgers great Don Newcombe dies at 92
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Royals OF Brett Phillips: I need to go back to who I was
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
It's everyone's favorite Rangers video: Joey Gallo taking batting practice
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets wooed Adeiny Hechavarria on Valentine's Day to sign vet infielder
 Earlier Picks: 
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Why Yankees expect Miguel Andujar to fix pitiful defense
KHOU-TV:
Astros have the best uniforms in baseball, Twitter vote says
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
NY Mets ace Jacob deGrom draws criticism from Yankees' Luis Severino
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Rajai Davis signs minors deal with Mets, but sees opportunity in majors
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Updates from White Sox spring training: How does Yolmer Sanchez feel about a move back to second base?
Discussion: South Side Sox
Eddie Matz / ESPN:
How Patrick Corbin won the winter
 

 
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