Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
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.
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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
Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
Bryce Harper, Phillies agree to record-breaking $330 million free agent deal — The superstar slugger is expected to join the Phillies on a massive long-term deal — Arguably the best free agent of the last 18 years has a new team. Bryce Harper has agreed to a free agent contract …
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, 10NEWS, FanGraphs Baseball and The Crawfish Boxes
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:
MLB Baseball News …, Forbes and SFist
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.
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 …
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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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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
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
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 …
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Martin Fennelly / Tampa Bay Times:
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.
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Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
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.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
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 …
ESPN:
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.
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
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.
