Top News:
Alex Pavlovic / NBCSports.com:
Sources: Bryce Harper, Giants have discussed 10-year contract — All along, the Giants have been viewed as a short-term solution for Bryce Harper. That's not actually the case. — The Giants and Harper's team have discussed a 10-year contract, NBC Sports Bay Area has learned.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Kris Bryant on a possible contract extension: 'Everybody has money. We're not stupid.'
Cubs' Kris Bryant on a possible contract extension: 'Everybody has money. We're not stupid.'
Discussion:
CBS Sports Radio and MLB Trade Rumors
Thomas Lott / Sporting News:
MLB hot stove: Bryce Harper likely to pick between these 3 teams, report says
MLB hot stove: Bryce Harper likely to pick between these 3 teams, report says
Discussion:
NESN.com, DodgerBlue.com and SFist
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks' Rubby De La Rosa hits 99 mph in return to mound — Diamondbacks 5, Padres 5 (nine innings) — On the mound: RHP Rubby De La Rosa, seeing game action for the first time in 18 months after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in 2017, threw a scoreless inning with one walk.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Luke Weaver sharp in spring debut for Diamondbacks — Luke Weaver's unofficial Diamondbacks' debut came on Wednesday afternoon on a back field at Salt River Fields against a Korean team that's in town for spring training. — It wasn't the sort of atmosphere that normally would produce butterflies …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks look like long shots, but still have reason for hope — ANALYSIS: A single moment from a spring training game is something for Arizona to grasp onto heading into the 2019 season — Steven Souza Jr.'s three-run blast onto the grassy berm at Salt River Fields created the perfect spring tableau.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' Michael Fulmer pain-free, not worried about decreased velocity — LAKELAND, Fla. —Walking out to the pitcher's mound for his first game action since September, Michael Fulmer had one worry. — It was not his health, nor was it the right knee brace he's been wearing all spring …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers observations: Michael Fulmer's velocity down in debut — LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer made his first appearance of spring training on Wednesday afternoon against the New York Yankees, pumping fastballs in the low-90 m.p.h. range for two innings.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees' 1B battle between Luke Voit and Greg Bird heating up already — Luke Voit takes BP before Yankees-Rays game, Feb. 24, at Port Charlotte, Florida — LAKELAND, Fla. - Four games into the Grapefruit League season, the Yankees' first base battle is already raging.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Steven Matz mimics Jacob deGrom and more Mets observations — Steven Matz got back to work earlier than usual this year. — The Mets left-handed pitcher took a page out of Jacob deGrom's book and practiced throwing the entire offseason. The ‘no time-off’ mentality showed early results in his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets acquired JD Davis believing he can shine with regular playing time — J.D. Davis on the Mets' injury situation — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Among a crowded collection of Astros infielders and outfielders, Mets executives noticed a talent they felt could shine with more playing time.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
‘Oh my god!’ What prompted Woodward to say that after watching Volquez pitch for Rangers? — The first pitch Edinson Volquez threw Wednesday, in his first meaningful game against a real major-league batter since August of 2017, registered 95 mph on the Surprise Stadium radar gun.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
What are Rangers looking for most from lefty relievers early in camp? (Hint: Not results) — The latest left-hander to audition for the Texas Rangers' bullpen on Opening Day was Kyle Byrd, who on Tuesday threw two perfect innings against the Seattle Mariners. — Another, Brett Martin, was scheduled to pitch Wednesday.
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Don't be offended by Machado: Manny was just being Manny when he dissed Baltimore — It's good to see that — $300 million later — Manny Machado is still being Manny. — My favorite man-child just took a big shot at the Orioles, the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland …
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Time for Miguel Andujar to leave Yankees no regrets — LAKELAND — He's the Yankees' third baseman — for the near future, at least. — Last year, as Miguel Andujar was posting a solid rookie season, he had to listen to nonstop rumors about the Yankees potentially signing Manny Machado to replace him.
Stephanie Apstein / Sports Illustrated:
Why Manny Machado Signed With the Padres After an Unpredictable Free Agency Adventure
Why Manny Machado Signed With the Padres After an Unpredictable Free Agency Adventure
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Camden Chat and New York Daily News
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Chance Sisco hits two homers in Orioles' 7-6 Grapefruit League victory over Red Sox — Orioles catcher Chance Sisco appears hell-bent to make everyone forget last season as quickly as possible. — He homered in his first at-bat of the Grapefruit League exhibition season Saturday and blasted …
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Christopher Smith / Union-News:
Brock Holt became Boston Red Sox's loud leader after ‘honest’ …
Brock Holt became Boston Red Sox's loud leader after ‘honest’ …
Discussion:
NESN.com, The Athletic and Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Switch-pitcher Venditte psyched for rule change — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants pitcher Pat Venditte figures he has an advantage if Major League Baseball and the players' association adopt a three-batter minimum for pitchers starting in 2020: The 33-year-old reliever is a switch-pitcher.
Ronald Blum / Daily Record:
MLB appears headed to early labor negotiations — NEW YORK — Baseball players and management appear headed to early labor negotiations that could lead to significant economic changes in the collective bargaining agreement and possibly a new deal past the current expiration of December 2021.
Peter Botte / New York Post:
Kenny Lofton blasts A-Rod, MLB cheaters in Hall of Fame rant … Kenny Lofton makes movies now, and perhaps this topic might be meaty and personal enough for him to tackle for his next project. — The former All-Star outfielder — whose latest film, an MMA/murder story titled “Chokehold …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Danny Farquhar's surreal comeback takes next step at Yankees camp — Danny Farquhar threw his second simulated game Wednesday, another step in his dramatic comeback. Farquhar suffered a brain hemorrhage during an April game with the White Sox, requiring life-saving, emergency surgery.
David O'Brien / The Athletic:
Moylan retires from majors; popular Braves reliever leaves with no regrets — LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Peter Moylan worked a string of jobs in sales and manual labor back home in Australia through much of his 20s before starting an improbable major league career as a 27-year-old Braves rookie reliever in 2006.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Baseball News …
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
5 takeaways from White Sox spring training, including Yonder Alonso and Jose Abreu saying they're not in competition — Photos from the White Sox's 11-4 loss to the Reds in a spring training game on Feb. 27, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. — Chicago Tribune — Five takeaways from White Sox spring training Wednesday:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds starter Luis Castillo's goal? A strong start to the season — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Luis Castillo's final start of the 2018 season was electric. His fastball reached 99 mph. He struck out hitters with his devastating changeup. He pitched eight scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Trade to Cardinals gave breakout prospect Lane Thomas ‘freedom to try new things’ and flourish — JUPITER, Fla. • When the call came with an opportunity that would change the trajectory of his career, Lane Thomas missed it. — Thomas was a High-A outfielder in Toronto's organization …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ankiel starts another comeback trail with Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • The Cardinals' bullpen is well populated in lefthanded relievers with Andrew Miller, Brett Cecil, Chasen Shreve and Tyler Webb on the roster and Austin Gomber as a possibility, too.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Seeing double? Mets working on a deal with Wilson Ramos' younger brother Natanael — PORT ST. LUCIE - Two years ago, Natanael Ramos sat in a chair at his older brother's locker in the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse. Wilson Ramos had stepped away to work out in the training room.
Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
WATCH: Cleveland Indians SP Trevor Bauer mic'd up for Spring Training start — As he took the mound for his Spring Training debut, Cleveland Indians Trevor Bauer provided an inside look at what goes into one of his starts. — Trevor Bauer has done plenty of talking this offseason.
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Shane Bieber excited to get full year under his belt with Indians in 2019 — Starting pitcher Shane Bieber is excited to get a full year under his belt with the Cleveland Indians in 2019. — CLEVELAND — The 2018 season was a bit of a whirlwind for Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber.