Bryce Harper's free agency reaches final stages and Phillies might no longer be favorites  —  PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers don't really need him, but suddenly badly want him.  The San Francisco Giants may not win with him, but he can be their greatest one-man marketing act since Barry Bonds.

Cardinals notebook: Hicks ‘feels strong’ and shows it  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • When Jordan Hicks was asked what areas he needed to improve on the most from his rookie season to his sophomore year, he answered, “I want to get my walks down and maybe my strikeouts up.”

Detroit Tigers' Dustin Peterson sticks it to Braves for cutting him  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Dustin Peterson had been waiting for this one.  —  When the Detroit Tigers' spring training schedule was revealed last fall, he marked it on his calendar.  And when he saw his name in the starting lineup …

Cincinnati Reds blow a 4-run lead, fall 10-8 to Milwaukee Brewers  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - The Reds blew a four-run lead and lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 10-8 before a crowd of 2,516 at Goodyear Ball Park.  An error by Alfred Rodriguez led to four unearned runs in the seventh.  —  Injury report

Clayton Kershaw's latest throwing session went ‘pretty well’ ... for 5 minutes  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — The most important five minutes of the Dodgers' workout Thursday went “pretty well.”  —  That was Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman's assessment after left-hander …

Grichuk homers, Vlad doubles but Jays lose again  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Some quick hits from the Blue Jays 11-5 loss to the Phillies on Thursday afternoon at Dunedin Stadium, a defeat that dipped their spring record to 1-3.  — Making his first Grapefruit League appearance of 2019 …

The man who would be Yankees shortstop  —  Troy Tulowitzki, after battling injuries, tries to revive career  —  TAMPA — He hasn't played in a game since July 2017.  He remains the highest paid player on the Toronto Blue Jays and he isn't even a Toronto Blue Jay.  Toronto gave up on him.

Here's how Mike Trout added to Drew Smyly's ‘huge step forward’ with Rangers  —  Another day, another Tommy John comeback story on the mound for the Texas Rangers.  —  A third will pitch for them Friday.  —  But it was Drew Smyly's turn Thursday, and, like Edinson Volquez on Wednesday …

Kyle Lewis, Evan White homers help Mariners roll to easy 8-3 win vs. White Sox  —  Felix Hernandez made his second start of the spring, pitching three innings and allowing two runs.  —  Mariners 8, White Sox 3 at Peoria Stadium  —  Notable  —  Felix Hernandez made his second start of the spring and had mixed results.

Yankees closer Chapman says knee issues gone  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman says he has recovered from the left knee tendinitis that bothered him during much of last season.  —  Chapman threw 21 pitches during a four-batter simulated game appearance on Thursday, his 31st birthday.

Jason Vargas posted an 8.60 ERA in first half 2018, but tallied a 3.60 ERA in second half  —  Jupiter, Fla. - Jason Vargas didn't concern himself with the rumors.  —  The Mets were linked to Gio Gonzalez and evaluated the starting pitching market this offseason, but ultimately passed on bringing in any competition for Vargas.