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.

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.”

Five New York Yankees to watch during exhibition games this weekend  —  Yankees' Luis Severino talks about pitching in a two-inning simulated game at spring training  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Less than four weeks away from opening day, here's a Yankees' take-five for this weekend:

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 …

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 …

Jason Vargas would've understood if Mets added a starter … JUPITER, Fla. — Bring on the reinforcements.  —  Jason Vargas is the probable weakest link in the Mets rotation, but the veteran left-hander said Thursday he would have completely understood if team officials saw the necessity …

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.

Bryce Harper just broke the MLB contract record ... sort of  —  It isn't wrong to say that 2015's “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is the highest domestic-grossing film in history at $936 million.  It is.  It's also not wrong to point out that, adjusted for ticket-price inflation, 1939's …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.