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.

Cards' Martinez gets PRP; shelved for 2 weeks  —  JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez had an injection to stimulate healing in his weak pitching shoulder and likely will not be in the starting rotation at the beginning of the season.

Column: Cubs starter Jon Lester is right to rip the pitch clock: If you love the game, what's the rush?  —  Cubs starter Jon Lester discusses why he doesn't think baseball should implement a pitch clock: “Baseball is baseball.  You're not gonna speed it up, you're not gonna change it.”  —  Chicago Tribune

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.

Rangers add infielder Logan Forsythe on minor league deal  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Infielder Logan Forsythe has agreed to a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and will be at major league spring training.  —  The addition of Forsythe on Tuesday provides infield depth.

Wainwright perfect for two innings; Goldschmidt gets first hit  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  • Adam Wainwright tossed two perfect innings in his first start of the spring season and Paul Goldschmidt doubled for his first Cardinals hit when he connected to lead off the fourth inning Tuesday.

Yankees Notebook: Slow-moving Masahiro Tanaka not in favor of the proposed pitch clock  —  TAMPA — Masahiro Tanaka does not like the idea, but was curious to get a look at it.  Jonathan Loaisiga purposefully didn't pay attention to it Sunday and J.A. Happ has said he plans to ignore it.

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.

Mets 3B Todd Frazier sidelined with left oblique injury  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets third baseman Todd Frazier injured his left oblique muscle and will return to New York for a cortisone injection, the second Mets infielder to get hurt at spring training after fellow infielder Jed Lowrie.

Terry Francona: Hanley Ramirez could be ‘middle-of-the-order’ bat for Indians  —  Manager Terry Francona believes Hanley Ramirez could be a middle-of-the-order hitter for the Cleveland Indians.  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians traded away or let go in free agency several middle …

Down 15 pounds, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Finnegan looks to bounce back from ‘embarrassing’ season  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - As Reds pitchers begin playing catch before another spring training workout, Brandon Finnegan stands a few feet to the side of the field.

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.”

Marlins prospect Mesa has hamstring strain  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Miami Marlins outfield prospect Victor Victor Mesa has been diagnosed with a Grade 1ne right hamstring strain and reassigned to minor league rehabilitation, a setback in the development of the highly regarded Cuban defector.

Dellin Betances doesn't want to talk about an extension, but makes it clear he wants to be part of Yankees future  —  TAMPA — With the Yankees having locked up Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks with extensions this spring, there have been rumblings that Dellin Betances could be next.

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.

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.