Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wacha to pitch for Cardinals for first time since June — JUPITER, Fla. • Righthander Michael Wacha will pitch for the Cardinals for the first time since last June 20 Sunday when he faces the Washington Nationals in the Cardinals' second exhibition game of the season.
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Associated Press:
Cardinals sign OF Jose Martinez to $3.25 million, 2-year contract — Jose Martinez's teammates with the St. Louis Cardinals applauded his new contract Saturday, and the deal gave his family reason to cheer, too. — The outfielder/first baseman signed a $3.25 million …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: J. Martinez gets 2-year contract — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals, instead of selling Jose Martinez to Japan this past off-season, signed him to a two-year, $3.25 million contract Saturday, taking him through his arbitration year in 2020.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals' Hicks is growing into his blazing arm — JUPITER, Fla. • The cacophony begins before sunrise with the beeping and bleating from a medley of iPhone tones, and if he still doesn't stir — cue the blaring rap music. — This could go on for an hour until 7:20 a.m. Florida time when …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards pound Miami with 20-hit attack; Layne, Helsley star on mound
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards blast Miami with 20-hit attack; Layne, Helsley star on mound
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Knizner to start behind the plate for Cardinals in spring opener
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Source: Hanley Ramirez agrees to minor league deal with Indians — Hanley Ramirez agreed to a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians on Saturday in hopes of making a comeback after the Boston Red Sox released him in the middle of last season, a source familiar with the agreement told ESPN.
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees open spring the same way they ended last season ... talking about the Red Sox — FORT MYERS - About five minutes after Aaron Boone arrived at JetBlue Park for the Yankees' first spring training game, the question was just thrown out there. After battling the Red Sox all last season …
John Tomase / WEEI:
Improved Yankees mean AL East will be no cakewalk this year
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Boston Herald, Boston Sports Journal, Dan Shaughnessy Watch and Pinstripe Alley
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Greg Bird comes out swinging in New York Yankees' first exhibition game
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees' Aaron Hicks on ALDS defeat: 'I'm still not over it'
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and MLB Baseball News …
Detroit Free Press:
Ex-Detroit Tiger Jose Iglesias signs with Cincinnati on minor-league deal — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Looking to add more depth in the infield, the Cincinnati Reds signed shortstop Jose Iglesias to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training Saturday.
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
At Detroit Tigers minor league camp, I saw hope for the future — LAKELAND, Fla. — I don't want to cause a scene by pulling out my notebook, so I type what he just said into an app on my phone. It will come in handy one day, the way this Detroit Tigers executive said, “I wish we could fast-forward three years,” punching his fist.
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Matt Kemp hits a two-run homer in the Cincinnati Reds' spring training opener — Editor's note: The Cincinnati Reds are underway at spring training in Goodyear, Arizona, until March 24. Check back here for news and updates from Enquirer beat writers Bobby Nightengale and John Fay.
ESPN:
Contract talks between Bryce Harper, Phillies nearing conclusion — Negotiations between the Philadelphia Phillies and Bryce Harper could be resolved by Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney. — The Phillies remain confident that they are going to sign Harper, but sources told Olney …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Phillies' pursuit of Bryce Harper goes on and on, and on and on — Phillies execs might as well genuflect in unison before Bryce Harper, while waiving wads of cash one-by-one and begging he take their offer — even if it doesn't come close to the $400 million super-agent Scott Boras thinks his client warrants.
Discussion:
Sporting News, NBC Bay Area and NESN.com
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: New Phillies players make their game debuts — New Phillies players make their game debuts — While the Phillies wait to see whether Bryce Harper will sign with them, a trio of other big names took their first swings for Philadelphia. — Catcher J.T. Realmuto …
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Rogers cuts the cord on number of Blue Jays spring training broadcasts — DUNEDIN, Fla. - The latest step in the Blue Jays' massive rebuild got underway here on Saturday afternoon with the opening of Grapefruit League play. — But unless you were among the 5,040 at Dunedin Stadium …
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Jeff Fletcher / Daily News:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani excited for next step in rehab — Ohtani said he's swinging at 100 percent after his second day hitting off a tee — TEMPE, Ariz. — Two days into the next step of his rehab, Shohei Ohtani was already looking ahead. — After he hit off a tee for the second consecutive …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Dylan Hernandez / Baltimore Sun:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani says experiences prepared him for lengthy rehab — Angels' Shohei Ohtani arrives for a news conference at their spring baseball training facility in Tempe, Ariz. on Feb. 13, 2019. (Chris Carlson / Associated Press) — Word is that Shohei Ohtani is hitting baseballs …
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Pete Alonso's hunt for Mets job off to torrid start — PORT ST. LUCIE - Pete Alonso is not wasting time forcing the Mets hand. — On the first pitch he saw, Alonso blasted a two-run homer to the deepest part of First Data Field in the Mets' 4-3 win over the Braves in their Saturday spring opener.
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Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs' Kris Bryant motivated by criticism entering 2019 season — MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant says he's motivated heading into the new season and to bring on the naysayers. — Bryant, who went 2-for-2 with a home run in the Cubs' Cactus League opener Saturday …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Tommy Hottovy makes strong early impression as Cubs' new pitching coach: ‘This guy is awesome’ — Photos of the Cubs at spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., before the 2019 season. — Chicago Tribune — As a 22-year-old hotshot in the Royals organization seven years ago …
Andy McCullough / The Charlotte Observer:
As a free agent or a Rocky, Arenado is going to break bank — On the morning that Manny Machado agreed to a 10-year, $300-million contract with the San Diego Padres, Nolan Arenado pondered the next decade of his life. The thought did not trouble him. He burst into a smile outside …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
5 takeaways from White Sox spring training, including Yoan Moncada's comfort level and Nick Madrigal's debut — Chicago Tribune — Five takeaways from White Sox spring training Saturday: — Yoan Moncada had some sage advice for Eloy Jimenez about dealing with the scrutiny of being the Sox's top prospect: Wear blinders.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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