Top News:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Baseball notebook: Phillies get Harper for 13 years, $330 million — It took a long time and a lot of money, but the Philadelphia Phillies finally landed Bryce Harper with a record contract. — The young star outfielder and the Phillies agreed Thursday to a $330 million, 13-year contract …
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ESPN:
Winners and losers from Harper's $330 million Phillies deal — Barely more than a week after Manny Machado picked the San Diego Padres, Bryce Harper is headed to the Philadelphia Phillies. What does the deal mean for baseball's new $330 million man, the team that signed him and the rest of baseball?
Discussion:
Forbes, MLB Baseball News … and SFist
Bill Baer / NBCSports.com:
Ken Williams: “It's a shame if it's being portrayed that we were on the cheap on [pursuing Manny Machado].” — One week ago, infielder Manny Machado and the Padres agreed on a 10-year, $300 million contract. Thus ended months of pursuit from other teams, including the White Sox and Phillies.
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Rotoworld.com and Chicago Sun-Times
Ryan Ford / Detroit Free Press:
MLB's best 2019 free agents still available, now that Harper, Machado have signed — Bryce Harper is officially off the market. The former MVP will become a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. — CONNECT — Our long national nightmare is over, and Bryce Harper is finally a Philadelphia Phillie.
Discussion:
Sporting News and NESN.com
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.”
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wieters has impressive résumé, but no guarantee from Cardinals — JUPITER, Fla. • A week ago, two years to the day after he agreed to a two-year, $21-million contract with Washington that came tricked-out with all the latest gadgets — a player option and deferred money …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hicks makes presence felt as Cards fall to Mets 3-2 — Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks throws from the practice mound during Cardinals spring training on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com — JUPITER, Fla.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
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 …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Halos Heaven
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Harper's $330 million deal won't sting Rangers. But did Arenado's extension leave a mark? — By the time the Los Angeles Angels scored their first runs Thursday afternoon, the Texas Rangers had already scored nine times at Tempe Diablo Stadium. — Six of those came in the sixth inning …
Discussion:
Philly.com
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
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
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
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 …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
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 …
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
Kevin Acee / The Charlotte Observer:
Padres' Hosmer carries new swing, same smile into second year in San Diego — Eric Hosmer was on the field Wednesday, playing in a spring training game for the first time this year. — “Man, that felt good,” he said afterward, breaking into a smile that is real and wide and white.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Are Cubs fans as annoying as White Sox's Nicky Delmonico says? — Photos of the White Sox at spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., before the 2019 season. — Chicago Tribune — We don't know whether Nicky Delmonico will make the trip to Sloan Park on Sunday …
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Kansas City Royals tweet former Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton's diving catch — It's a sight very familiar to Cincinnati Reds fans, but Kansas City Royals fans are just starting to appreciate watching Billy Hamilton play center field. — Hamilton made a diving catch during …
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Grichuk homers, Vlad doubles but Jays lose again ... Jays sign pitchers Buchholz, Norris — 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.
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks leaned on rivals in Ketel Marte transition — Ketel Marte's shift from second base to center field mirrors that of the Seattle Mariners' Dee Gordon last year. The Diamondbacks dug around with the Mariners before deciding how to proceed with Marte.
