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12:25 PM ET, March 4, 2019

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 Top News: 
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
How Mike Trout could wind up with Bryce Harper in Philly  —  The ink is barely dry on Bryce Harper's contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Mike Trout is under contract with the Los Angeles Angels for the next two seasons, but everyone already is talking about what might happen after the 2020 season.
Discussion: Fish Stripes
RELATED:
Bill Baer / NBCSports.com:   Bryce Harper says he will be ready for Opening Day
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Bryce Harper embraces spotlight, but is he ready for Philadelphia and $330 million expectations?
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Tortoise-like Yankees pitcher isn't upset over MLB clock experiment  —  TAMPA — It was not something Masahiro Tanaka could ignore.  There it was, bright red numbers behind home plate ticking down and measuring just how slow he was in between pitches.  —  And it didn't bother him at all.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees GM is sick of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado
Discussion: Sporting News
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:   Yankees GM Brian Cashman closes the book on Bryce Harper, Manny Machado chatter
Mac Engel / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
What Rangers manager Chris Woodward has in common with all-time great Ted Williams  —  Other than playing the game of baseball, Chris Woodward shares little in common with Ted Williams except they both once elected to hit in the final game of the regular season and risked their batting average.
RELATED:
Gerry Fraley / Dallas-Fort Worth Sports News:
There's a beacon of light in the Rangers' rotation full on Tommy John recovery stories, and his name is Lance Lynn
Discussion: Gaslamp Ball
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
What happened at the mound Sunday that kept Lynn in meaningless Rangers spring game?
Discussion: Lone Star Ball and The Athletic
Steve Hummer / The Charlotte Observer:
Chipper Jones is lean and keen on the Braves  —  BY STEVE HUMMER THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION  —  Chipper Jones had reported back to Braves spring training, his first since being minted as a Hall of Famer in July, and notably has reported in shape.  —  He's back to his playing weight …
Marlowe Alter / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers observations: Niko Goodrum has big day at the plate  —  Niko Goodrum had himself quite the game Sunday.  —  Maybe he'll bat cleanup again.  —  The first baseman went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBIs in the Detroit Tigers' split-squad loss to the Baltimore Orioles, 7-5, in Sarasota, Fla.
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:   Detroit Tigers' Daniel Norris lost for answers after latest struggle
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers spring training observations: Daniel Norris struggles vs. Yankees
Discussion: Bless You Boys and Pinstripe Alley
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
JUPITER, Fla.  • On the observation deck outside the Cardinals' offices in right-center field and under an umbrella to protect against the heat sat an interested observer Sunday.  —  “I want to see them rounding second base,” said the base burglar, Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who had a good view of that portion of the diamond.
ESPN:
MVP?  Champion?  Captain?  Expectations sky high for Aaron Judge in Year 3  —  TAMPA, Fla. — At this early stage of his career, Aaron Judge's résumé already reads like a dream of a baseball-loving 11-year-old.  —  Home Run Derby champion.  Fifty-two homer season.  Rookie of the Year.
Associated Press:
Jansen's velocity down, but ‘normal’ for spring  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Kenley Jansen's numbers are down, but in a good way.  —  His fastball velocity has dipped for now, but he figures it will return.  And besides, he said, “The radar gun is overrated.”  —  The most important figure is 25 …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
With Wainwright on the mound, Wieters begins his bid to be Molina's backup  —  LAKELAND, Fla.  • There was a time, several years ago, when the only possibility of the battery the Cardinals will have Monday afternoon against Detroit would have been in an All-Star Game.
ABC7:
Giants CEO stepping away as MLB investigates  —  San Francisco Giants president and CEO Larry Baer will step away from the team as Major League Baseball investigates an altercation between Baer and his wife in which he knocked her to the ground.  —  The Giants' board of directors announced Monday …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Javier Baez and Albert Almora Jr. in lineup as Cubs face Reds  —  Photos of the Cubs at spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., before the 2019 season.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Most of the Cubs regulars will avoid Monday's 36-mile road trip to face the Reds in Goodyear, Ariz., including starter Cole Hamels.
Jeff Sanders / Baltimore Sun:
Fernando Tatis Jr. lands on Baseball America cover  —  Manny Machado, no doubt, will wind up on the cover of one or more magazines and/or trade publications this season after receiving $300 million from the Padres.  The first cover of the 2019 season belongs to his new protégé:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Believe it or not, the Cubs are rooting for the White Sox rebuild to succeed  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Some of the biggest believers in the White Sox rebuild weren't sitting in the stands at Sloan Park on Sunday for their Cactus League game against the Cubs.
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   4 takeaways from White Sox spring training, including Eloy Jimenez following a familiar path
Peter King / NBCSports.com:
FMIA: Kyler Murray, No. 1 Story at the Combine, And No. 1 Pick in the Draft?  —  INDIANAPOLIS—It's Kyler Murray's Combine, followed by Kyler Murray's Pro Day, followed by the spring of Kyler Murray Rumors, followed by, mercifully, the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25 and the official landing place of Kyler Murray.
Associated Press:
Judge homers twice as Yankees beat Tigers in spring game  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — All rise — again.  Aaron Judge is back.  —  Judge hit his first two homers of spring training, helping the New York Yankees to a 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers in a split-squad game on Sunday.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees say they'll top home run record set last season  —  TAMPA - Brett Gardner was talking a big game Sunday.  After hitting his first two homers of spring training in his first two at-bats on Sunday, the Yankees' diminutive, veteran outfielder was predicting that this Yankee team will break …
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Judge, Gardner: Yanks will break team HR record
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
John Romano / Tampa Bay Times:
Remember Blake Snell's words if the Rays bullpen falls short  —  Tampa Bay did little to upgrade its bullpen this winter, and the team's ace wonders why Craig Kimbrel was not on the radar.  —  This is what an ace does.  He steps up at critical moments.  —  In this case, before the regular season even begins.
Discussion: DRaysBay
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Royals trust that pitcher Homer Bailey knows how to get most out of spring training  —  The Royals put a belief in Homer Bailey and his track record when they signed him last month.  While he hasn't thrown a pitch in a spring training game yet this season — that's tentatively scheduled …
 
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 More News: 
Danny Abriano / SNY:
Brandon Nimmo returns as Mets host Red Sox, Monday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY
Discussion: Over the Monster
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Brandon Bielak stealthily ascends list of Astros' pitching prospects
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Zack Wheeler labors through second start, but is not concerned with results
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Why Kevin Cash was yelling at the Pirates
Dallas-Fort Worth Sports News:
Rangers pitching prospect Taylor Hearn on expectations for 2019, calf roping, and his go-to Whataburger order
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Sizing up the toughest divisions in baseball
Discussion: Talking Chop
 Earlier Picks: 
Betsy Helfand / Twin Cities:
Twins' Jake Cave ready to fight for any opportunity
Discussion: Twinkie Town
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Vlad Guerrero double displays raw skill and power of Blue Jays top prospect
Mirjam Swanson / Daily News:
Landry Shamet carries Clippers to big first half in victory over Knicks
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds snap skid with a home run fest in 11-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Jonathan Lucroy moves on to Angels after ‘great time’ with A's
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
WHY PAY SO MUCH FOR MIKOLAS?  —  QUESTION: Why give so much money to Miles Mikolas?
 

 
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