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 …

Mets' Jed Lowrie has knee sprain, unsure of Opening Day status  —  New York Mets infielder Jed Lowrie on Saturday said he's unsure of when he'll be able to resume baseball activities after being diagnosed with a left knee capsule sprain.  —  “I want to be out there with the guys on Opening Day …

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 …

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 …

MLB notes: Ervin Santana agrees to minor-league deal with White Sox  —  The Chicago White Sox have finalized minor league deals with right-hander Ervin Santana and outfielder Preston Tucker.  —  The 36-year-old Santana made five starts with Minnesota last season after having surgery …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

'It's finally over': Manny Machado calls the Padres a perfect fit … PEORIA, Ariz. — Manny Machado pulled on a dark blue San Diego hat and slipped a crisp No. 13 Padres jersey over his broad shoulders.  —  “It's finally over,” Machado said with a grin.  —  Finally, indeed.

5 takeaways from the White Sox's opening loss to the A's, including Yoan Moncada's comfort level and Nick Madrigal's debut  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Sox dropped both games of a split-squad opener, losing 7-6 to the Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz, and 6-5 to the A's in Mesa.  Here are five takeways from the game in Mesa: