Top News:
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Injuries may force Yanks to use ‘opener’ in '19 — TAMPA, Fla. — The “opener,” the phenomenon that swept through major league pitching staffs last season, might finally take hold in the Bronx later this spring. — With injuries already ravaging the upper echelon of his starting rotation …
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Nick Senzel sidelined with tight left hamstring — Nick Senzel on his first start in center — GOODYEAR, Ariz - The Reds want to see top prospect Nick Senzel in center field as much as they can during spring training, but Senzel missed his second straight game …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Aaron Hicks still delayed, Jacoby Ellsbury scheduled to return to Yankees spring training — Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks working out on Tuesday, the club's first official full-squad workout day — TAMPA, Fla. - There's still no date for Aaron Hicks' return to the Yankees lineup.
Discussion:
New Jersey Online, MLB Baseball News … and New York Post
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds reliever David Hernandez continues to learn from last season — GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Learning from last year, Reds reliever David Hernandez decided to press pause on his pitching schedule after he felt some soreness in his shoulder. — Hernandez was supposed to start pitching …
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Yankees desperately need Luis Severino, who is hopeful for quick return
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gant stares down the Bronx ‘bullies’ as he searches for changeup, efficiency — • A quick scan of the Yankees lineup he'd face Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field told John Gant about the test awaiting him. — “They sent the bullies out,” he said.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards catcher Pena to miss only one week; Molina guns down 3 runners in squad game — JUPITER, Fla. • The forecast of Francisco Pena being out at least 10 to 15 days because of a strained left oblique has been shortened to only a week, according to a Cardinals official …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Royals' Perez undergoes successful TJ surgery — SURPRISE, Ariz. — Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez underwent successful Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow Wednesday, keeping the six-time All-Star off the field for the entire 2019 season.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Nick Friar / WEEI:
Porcello's two key outs in ALDS set tone for entire postseason, Cora says — FORT MYERS—The Red Sox had several pivotal moments throughout the 2018 postseason, especially from their pitchers. Joe Kelly re-emerged as a bullpen weapon when it seemed Boston had next to no options entering the playoffs.
Discussion:
NESN.com
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Buster Olney / ESPN:
Expect a monster year from Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks prospect Jazz Chisholm trying to refine his plate discipline — Diamondbacks prospect Jazz Chisholm is known for his smooth left-handed swing, a swing he's usually not shy about unleashing early in his at-bats. But so far in spring training he has taken a different approach to his trips to the plate.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Jake Lamb's education at first base for Diamondbacks continuing in spring — Jake Lamb stood at first base as a coach smashed ground ball after ground ball at him. These were not low-intensity, go-through-the-motions fungos. These were rockets, hard one-hoppers, balls that felt as close to the real thing as possible.
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.
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: MLB All-Star ‘Election Day’ planned — The first Tuesday in November isn't going to be the only annual Election Day in the United States. — As part of sweeping changes to the collective bargaining agreement, which is increasingly likely to be ratified by Major League Baseball …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Bleacher Nation, NESN.com, MLB Baseball News … and Associated Press
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Roberts: Kershaw's Opening Day status still in air — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw has not yet been ruled out for Opening Day by the Los Angeles Dodgers despite all the time he has missed at spring training with a sore left shoulder. — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that …
Associated Press:
Angels' Harvey goes 3 innings in first spring start — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Matt Harvey has spent six years in the major leagues and will turn 30 years old on March 27, but the Los Angeles Angels pitcher said he felt as if he was making his first big league start on Wednesday.
Associated Press:
Blue Jays finalize minors deal with Bud Norris — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Right-hander Bud Norris and the Toronto Blue Jays have finalized a minor league contract, and he will report to major league spring training. — Norris, who turned 34 on Saturday, had 47 saves over the past two seasons …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bluebird Banter
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Morales proud to return the father figure favour to Vlad Guerrero Jr. — DUNEDIN — Kendrys Morales will never forget when he first met the Guerrero family and the profound and lasting effect the encounter would have on his baseball life. — The year was 2004 and Morales had just defected …
ESPN:
Sources: Heimlich signs with Mexican league — Former Oregon State pitcher Luke Heimlich, who was not selected in the Major League Baseball draft last summer, has signed a contract with a team in Mexico's summer league, multiple sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: No karaoke. No animals. No bounce house. Is it the end of an era at Cubs spring training camp? — Photos of the Cubs at spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., before the 2019 season. — Chicago Tribune — If it seems like the Cubs have toned down their spring antics, it's probably because they have.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers: Tyson Ross' struggles could be concerning. Here's why — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Tyson Ross sat in his locker, mixing a post-game recovery shake on the floor, when reporters approached with questions about his latest start. — “Just trying not to make a mess,” he said.
