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.

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 kids, shared a conversation he had with his 11-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.

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.

Bubba thump: Rangers prospect makes most of time in big-league spring game with homer  —  Bubba Thompson won't be in the major leagues this season, and there's a pretty good chance he won't be making his big-league debut in 2020 in the first season of Globe Life Field.

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 …

Volquez ‘great’ after two spring starts, but why does he think stadium radar gun is ailing?  —  The lineup the Colorado Rockies hauled out to Surprise Stadium on Monday won't be confused with the Blake Street Bombers from the mid-1990s and early 2000s.  —  The Rockies, in fact …

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 …

Rangers acquire outfielder Granite from Twins  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers acquired outfielder Zack Granite from Minnesota for right-hander Xavier Moore and $50,000, and the Twins dealt Moore to the Baltimore Orioles for $750,000 in 2019-20 international signing bonus pool allocation.

Sources: Cubs restructure Brad Brach's contract, but 'everything's fine' after long free-agency process  —  MESA, Ariz. - In the end, Brad Brach is happy to be here.  —  This is a chance to close games, return to the playoffs and maybe earn a World Series ring.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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 …

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.

'It's a good day for him,' Craig Counsell says, as Jimmy Nelson throws his first live BP of spring  —  PHOENIX - Monday was an off day on the Brewers' Cactus League schedule but not for Jimmy Nelson.  —  Far from it.  —  As most of the team enjoyed its first day off of the spring …

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.

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.