With plenty of time left in spring, switch-hitting Fowler trying to get right when possible  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • If he wants to get some extra swings from his second side of the plate, Dexter Fowler doesn't have to go far for those at-bats.  —  There's bound to be a live batting practice …

Tanaka?  Paxton?  Happ?  Keuchel?!  Handicapping the Yankees' Opening Day starter  —  TAMPA, Fla. — All winter, it was practically a foregone conclusion who'd be starting Opening Day for the New York Yankees.  —  Then, about 15 minutes prior to Tuesday's spring training game against the Braves …

Catcher and shortstop, Kyle Farmer's versatility may help him make Cincinnati Reds roster  —  GOODYEAR, Arizona - Kyle Farmer resisted the idea of playing catcher for as long as he could.  He set defensive fielding records playing shortstop at the University of Georgia, but Major League teams wanted to draft him as a catcher.

Astros to roll with Verlander on Opening Day  —  Ace Justin Verlander will be the starting pitcher for the Houston Astros on Opening Day against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager AJ Hinch said Friday.  —  It will be the 11th Opening Day start for Verlander, who has a 3-1 record with a 4.03 ERA …

Boston Red Sox's Alex Cora on legal sports gambling: ‘We all have concerns’  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — In his second year as Red Sox manager, Alex Cora will see a slight change to his daily pregame routine.  —  As first reported by Peter Gammons of The Athletic on Wednesday …

Robot umps, shift ban coming to Atlantic League  —  Baseball's potential future will be showcased in the independent Atlantic League this year, and it includes robot umpires, a 62-foot, 6-inch distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate, and no infield shifting.

Inside Mets' Tom Seaver plans that started years ago … PORT ST. LUCIE — Tom Seaver will be honored in multiple ways by the Mets, and one of those ways under consideration is a statue of Hall of Famer Tom Terrific.  —  The Mets have had conversations with the Seaver family and the Hall of Fame pitcher dating back a couple years.

Marlins shut down catcher Alfaro (knee) again  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The return of inflammation to Jorge Alfaro's right knee is once again prompting the Miami Marlins to shut down their expected opening-day catcher for a few more days.  —  Alfaro re-aggravated the injury during Tuesday's game while sliding into second base.

Orioles Acquire Dwight Smith, Designate Josh Osich  —  The Orioles have acquired outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. from the Blue Jays, the Baltimore organization announced.  International pool money will go to Toronto in return, with Scott Mitchell of TSN Sports tweeting the Jays will pick up half a million dollars in spending capacity.

Brodie Van Wagenen made a slick move naming Jessica Medoza and Al Leiter ‘special advisors’  —  Ultimately, Brodie Van Wagenen cannot control what the Mets do on the field, but has already showed the ability to manage the message surrounding his team.  —  Is anyone in the media …

Let's Find A Landing Spot For Craig Kimbrel  —  On its very surface, the fact that Craig Kimbrel remains unsigned sounds ridiculous.  He's on a Hall of Fame trajectory and leads all active relievers in saves (333).  The only pitcher in MLB history (min. 200 innings) with a higher strikeout percentage …

Giants' Farhan Zaidi still pursuing outfielders  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With Bryce Harper in another division and on another coast, the Giants' contingency plan for their outfield is materializing, albeit slowly.  —  “With the kind of investment and duration in a guy like Harper …

Padres hit five homers in victory over Rangers  —  Manny Machado, right, and Ian Kinsler, left, walk off the field after playing in a spring training game.  (Ross D. Franklin / AP)  —  Score: Padres 11, Rangers 8  —  Batter's box: It was against a pitcher who has thrown five innings above Double-A …

Column: White Sox outfield was among baseball's least productive last year — and its future looks shaky until Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert arrive  —  Photos of Eloy Jimenez, the White Sox outfielder and No. 4-ranked prospect by Baseball America.  —  Chicago Tribune