Why doing interviews in English is part of Yu Darvish's comeback plan  —  MESA — His Chicago Cubs teammates and manager knew he would pass his first test, but Yu Darvish wasn't as confident.  —  The challenge in front of him had nothing to do with a bullpen session or throwing program.

The Indians Are Contenders.  But Could They Get Away With A Little Tanking?  —  It will come as no surprise to anyone following baseball that, when we ran an early preseason version of our 2019 MLB projections, the Cleveland Indians came out as heavy favorites to win the American League Central.

Roberts: Kershaw “didn't feel so great” after playing catch  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw felt more soreness in his left shoulder playing catch Monday, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says the three-time Cy Young Award winner “didn't feel so great.”

The time is now for Twins' Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton  —  The three men sat down at a table next to the water on the elegant beach restaurant's huge outdoor patio.  A waiter brought them plates full of freshly caught fish, cooked on a bed of rice and vegetables, and the diners dug in.

Rockies offer Nolan Arenado a record-breaking contract for average annual salary  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The man soon may be making baseball history, going where no player has ever gone before.  —  He is one of baseball's greatest players, and soon may be the first to earn at least $35 million a season.

All eyes on Kikuchi during his spring debut for Mariners  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi felt the nerves Monday that would normally accompany taking the mound in front of tens of thousands of fans in a major ballpark, not the few thousand who showed up for a spring training game in the desert.

Noah Syndergaard gets ‘goosebumps’ over endless Mets possibilities  —  WEST PALM BEACH - Noah Syndergaard didn't bother suppressing the heat in his Grapefruit League debut.  —  The flame-throwing right-hander clocked in at 98 mph on the first pitch and settled in the upper-90s across two shutout innings against the Astros on Monday.

Tulowitzki hits homer then rips Jays team that 'told me I couldn't play anymore'  —  TAMPA — In the big picture of exhibition baseball it meant next to nothing, especially given we are still in the shaking off the rust portion of the program.  —  But for disgruntled Blue Jays fans …

Matt Barnes makes his case to become Red Sox closer  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The question was a straightforward one: Why could you be the closer for the Red Sox?  —  Matt Barnes' answer was just as direct.  —  “Over the last few years, I've learned a lot about the league and about myself …

Jimmy Nelson backs off from throwing with arm fatigue, but the Brewers say they're not worried  —  PHOENIX - Right-hander Jimmy Nelson was backed off from throwing over the weekend after experiencing what was called “arm fatigue,” a situation the Milwaukee Brewers' baseball bosses did not consider a noteworthy setback.

Would you rather have a team of 25-homer hitters or all Gold Glovers?  —  This debate was a topic of discussion on last week's Baseball Tonight podcast with Buster Olney: Would you rather have a lineup of eight 25-homer players or eight Gold Glovers?  Fun question.

Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel gets his (two) chances in center field  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - The Reds started to get answers to the biggest question of Reds spring Tuesday.  —  So can top prospect Nick Senzel play center field?  —  Let's just say we don't know a lot …

Jonathan Schoop was ‘heartbroken’ when he left Orioles, but now he's in a better place with Twins  —  Former Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is playing for his third major league team in the last seven months, but the Minnesota Twins seem like a perfect fit.

Zack Greinke's efficiency impresses new D-backs catcher Carson Kelly  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Diamondbacks have tried to match up Zack Greinke with the same catcher per the pitcher's request.  On Monday, 24-year-old Carson Kelly got his first chance behind the plate in the ace's first spring training start.

Aaron Hicks' surprise extension gives insight into Yankees mindset  —  TAMPA — The Yankees are betting on their future now.  —  On Monday, they locked up center fielder Aaron Hicks to a seven-year, $70 million deal, marking the second extension the Yankees have struck with the core of their young team this spring.

Brian McCann makes spring debut  —  Brian McCann took the field in a Braves uniform for the first time since 2013 on Tuesday.  —  McCann, who returned to his original team in November, made his spring debut against the Mets.  He played catcher and hit fifth in the order.