Snapshots from the first half of new-look Blue Jays spring training  —  DUNEDIN - Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, always glad to chat about his two teenaged kids, shared a conversation he had with his 14-year-old son Alex the other day.  —  The update from his off-season home centred around …

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.

Cardinals' dandy defensive plays steal outs, keep Wainwright tidy vs. Tigers  —  LAKELAND, Fla.  • Had Cardinals left fielder Jose Martinez's reach been an inch shorter or his 6-foot-6 frame been only 6-foot-4, the third inning might well have been over for Adam Wainwright and not the Tigers.

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.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Phillip Ervin playing his way into the Opening Day conversation  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — All the outfield discussion for the Cincinnati Reds has centered around Matt Kemp,Jesse Winker, Nick Senzel, Yasiel Puig and Scott Schebler.  —  But Phillip Ervin has worked …

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 …

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 …

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.

Here's the latest update from the Rangers on Luke Farrell's broken jaw  —  Right-hander Luke Farrell is expected to undergo a procedure later in the week to address his broken jaw, but he and the Texas Rangers aren't sure what will be done because there is still too much swelling.

2019 MLB player odds for awards, leaders include Votto, Suarez, Benintendi, Schwarber  —  Major League Baseball future bets are available on Bookmaker.eu for MVP and Cy Young awards in each league as well as league leaders in wins and home runs, and several players of local interest are among oddsmakers' picks.

Clayton Kershaw may not be ready to pitch in Dodgers' season opener … Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged for the first time on Monday that ace Clayton Kershaw, who has been slowed this spring by shoulder inflammation, may not be ready for the March 28 season opener against Arizona.

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.

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.

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.

What's Really the Matter With the Celtics?  —  Boston was a preseason Finals contender, combining veteran All-Stars with an explosive group of youngsters.  But nothing has gone according to plan this season, and Kyrie Irving's long-term future with the team is in question.  Where did it all go wrong?

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:

The Yankees are watching their top center field prospect grow this spring  —  TAMPA — There was a moment in Saturday afternoon's loss to the Pirates when the magnitude of Estevan Florial's potential and the depth of his inexperience showed through on the same play.

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 …

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.