Top News:
Associated Press:
Harper again lobbies for Trout to join him in Philly — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Now pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper. — The new Phillies slugger has again lobbied for superstar Mike Trout to join the franchise in 2021, a possible violation of Major League Baseball's tampering rule.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online
RELATED:
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
Angels contact MLB regarding Bryce Harper's possible tampering with Mike Trout — The Angels have contacted Major League Baseball regarding Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper's public recruitment of Angels star Mike Trout, a possible violation of tampering rules.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Sporting News, New York Post, MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB win totals: How we see the 2019 season unfolding — What I'm Hearing: Bob Nightengale was in attendance for Bryce Harper's introductory press conference for the Philadelphia Phillies. He says it was made clear what the expectations are for this year and beyond. — CONNECT
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Miguel Cabrera won't apologize for albatross contract: ‘Why should anyone be sorry?’
Discussion:
Cincinnati.com, Sporting News and Halos Heaven
Mark Didtler / Boston Globe:
The Yankees' 2018 Opening Day starter won't be ready to start 2019 — Luis Severino has an inflamed right shoulder — TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees ace Luis Severino will miss opening day because of an inflamed right shoulder that caused him to be scratched from his first scheduled spring training start on Tuesday.
RELATED:
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Sudden Luis Severino injury puts Yankees in the worst spot — TAMPA - The one area of vulnerability on this otherwise potentially deepest Yankee team in memory just got a little more vulnerable Tuesday when, after cracking off his first slider in his pre-game bullpen session, Luis Severino felt a sudden sharp pain in his shoulder.
George A. King III / New York Post:
Aaron Hicks ‘making progress’ on achy back but return date iffy
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Luis Severino Shut Down For Two Weeks Due To Shoulder Inflammation
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Lone Star Ball
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Cardinals longtime No. 1 prospect Alex Reyes vows to reclaim status — CLEARWATER, Fla. — It may have been a late inning of a meaningless spring training game, with most of the sellout crowd gone Tuesday from Spectrum Field, but for St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Alex Reyes …
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Flaherty's nine strikeouts lead Cardinals' power-packed outing vs. Phillies — CLEARWATER, Fla. • For a game in March against a Philadelphia club that also fancies itself a contender for October, the Cardinals offered a striking peek at the power they have stockpiled in their pitching staff, and how they intend to exploit it.
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
AP sources: MLB near deal for rosters to expand to 26 in '20 — NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and the players' union are near an agreement to expand active rosters by one to 26 starting in 2020 as part of a deal that would include a commitment to discuss larger economic issues after opening day this year.
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Kate Feldman / New York Daily News:
San Francisco Giants outfielder Cameron Maybin arrested for DUI — Cameron Maybin, the hopeful San Francisco Giants outfielder, was arrested last week for a DUI in Arizona. — Maybin, 31, blew a .142 blood alcohol level, almost twice the legal limit, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Discussion:
New York Post
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Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays' Borucki won't back down from challenge — DUNEDIN - Before spring training even began, Ryan Borucki had the perfect attitude for a second-year player looking to establish himself. — The young left hander told us at the time that he didn't expect to have a spot in the starting rotation handed to him.
RELATED:
Bob Raissman / New York Daily News:
Headaches await ESPN's Jessica Mendoza in Mets advisory role — The Mets better hope Jessica Mendoza, who they hired Tuesday as one of their baseball operations advisers, is better in that gig than she is working for ESPN as one of its “Sunday Night Baseball” analysts.
RELATED:
New York Mets / Mets Insider Blog:
JESSICA MENDOZA NAMED BASEBALL OPERATIONS ADVISOR
Discussion:
New York Daily News, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News …, MLB Daily Dish and The Big Lead
Associated Press:
Nationals ace Scherzer shuns DH, decides to bat — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In his third spring training start, Washington ace Max Scherzer wanted to try something different: batting. — Nationals manager Dave Martinez could have used a designated hitter in Tuesday's 8-4 loss to Boston …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize ‘going to be a fast-track guy’ for club — LAKELAND, Fla. — Just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Casey Mize walked into the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse. — Mize, an early starter — he usually gets to the ballpark around 7 a.m. — was not late.
RELATED:
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Padres see $3M ticket boost thanks to Machado — The San Diego Padres have generated nearly $3 million of additional ticket revenue in the two weeks since Manny Machado agreed to a 10-year, $300 million contract, according to the team's president of business operations, Erik Greupner.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and South Side Sox
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Cory Spangenberg, Tyler Saladino get chances to play all over field for Brewers in camp — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The plan of Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell this spring was to move utility players Cory Spangenberg and Tyler Saladino around on the field to gauge their versatility, both in the infield and outfield.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
Justin Bour seems to be getting back in the swing with the Angels — TEMPE, Ariz. - The clips were viewed side-by-side, one video showing an at-bat from Justin Bour's best year at the plate and another from his worst. — The newest Angels first baseman had never seen his swings presented so starkly.
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Unique debut behind him, Orioles lefty John Means hopes velocity, data make for a better big league encore — Orioles pitcher John Means throws a bullpen session at spring training in Sarasota, Fla. (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun) — Five months after John Means was rustled from his couch …
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Eno Sarris / The Athletic:
Tracking machines, spin efficiency and the plan to get Sonny Gray back on track — Sonny Gray had a bad season in New York. We all saw that ERA (near 5.0), and his season culminated in his general manager all but telling the world that the pitcher would not be back in pinstripes.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News …, New York Post and NESN.com
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Behind Dominic Smith's sleep revelation that has Mets raving — JUPITER, Fla. - Not only is Dominic Smith resting soundly through the night after shrinking the severity of his sleep apnea — a menacing disorder that disrupts a person's breathing pattern — but he's seeing the ball better too.
