Bryce Harper embraces spotlight, but is he ready for Philadelphia and $330 million expectations?  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — This was the first day of the rest of his new baseball life, and no matter how Bryce Harper just wanted to blend in Sunday with his new Philadelphia Phillies' teammates, it was impossible.

Detroit Tigers spring training observations: Daniel Norris struggles vs. Yankees  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Daniel Norris has been here before, in spring training after a strong off-season, trying to crack the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation but feeling a familiar frustration.

4 takeaways from White Sox spring training, including Eloy Jimenez following a familiar path  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Four takeaways from White Sox spring training Sunday:  —  Jimenez memorably hit a two-run pinch-hit home run last year in his return to the ballpark he played in as a Cubs prospect.

WHY PAY SO MUCH FOR MIKOLAS?  —  QUESTION: Why give so much money to Miles Mikolas?  He had one good season.  —  BENFRED: This is inaccurate, though.  Just because Mikolas was not pitching in MLB before last season, it does not mean he was not pitching well in Japan.

Rays' Tommy Pham driven by upbringing, desire to be the best  —  Watch Tommy Pham play for the couple years he was in St. Louis, or the couple months he was with the Rays last season, or even for a couple minutes.  —  What you are struck by is how much intensity he plays with, how driven, focused, even angry, he looks.

What happened at the mound Sunday that kept Lynn in meaningless Rangers spring game?  —  Lance Lynn issued his second walk of the game with two outs in the third inning Sunday, and Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward popped out of the dugout.  —  It's spring training …

Jonathan Lucroy moves on to Angels after ‘great time’ with A's  —  TEMPE, Ariz. - When the A's needed a catcher during the spring of 2018, Jonathan Lucroy was still available.  It was a major stroke of luck.  —  He wound up being exactly what the team needed, a positive force behind the plate …

Machado has quiet Padres debut in spring game  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Manny Machado's debut in a San Diego Padres uniform was a lot less eventful than his free agency.  —  The four-time All-Star spent the offseason being courted by every club with money to burn, and he wound up signing a $300 million …

Garrett wants to be everyday Amir for the Cincinnati Reds  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — A major topic of conversation last season centered around whether it was best to keep left-hander Amir Garrett in the bullpen or move him back to the rotation.  —  A year in the bullpen has convinced Garrett …

MLB's best free agents still available, now that Bryce Harper, Manny Machado have signed  —  It's official, Bryce Harper is finally off the free agent market.  —  It took until March for the top free agent prize to sign with a team.  The outfielder agreed 13-year, $330 million contract …

Slimmer Cecil stepping away from games to fit mechanics to ‘new body type’  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • A new outlook, a new mentality, and a new body frame due to significant weight loss this winter has left reliever Brett Cecil with clunky, outdated mechanics.

How was your Wednesday?  Probably not as productive as what Rangers' two-way player did  —  Matt Davidson played third base Wednesday for the Texas Rangers, picking up for Asdrubal Cabrera, and even launched a home run in a 9-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs.  —  That was what he did in the afternoon.