Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani homers in first live batting practice with Dodgers — GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani hit a towering home run in his first batting practice against live pitching since he underwent reconstructive elbow surgery — another step toward him playing in the Los Angeles Dodgers' season-opening series …
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Associated Press, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, The Athletic and True Blue LA
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Larry Lage / Associated Press:
Shohei Ohtani won't play in Dodgers' spring training opener, stays away from live batting practice — Shohei Ohtani did not participate in live batting practice Sunday, and his Los Angeles Dodgers spring training debut is on hold. — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani …
Discussion:
Orange County Register, Yahoo Sports, DraftKings Network and True Blue LA
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays starter Bassitt no fan of latest ‘annoying’ rule change — DUNEDIN, Fla. - When it comes to discussing the ongoing saga of rule changes in baseball, Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt is most definitely not on the fence. — STORY CONTINUES BELOW — This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
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baseballmusings.com and The Athletic
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Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Will new routine, new look lead to better version of Blue Jays' Vlad Guerrero, Jr.? — DUNEDIN, Fla. — Blue Jays position players aren't due to report here for full-on spring training duty until Monday, though that hasn't stopped many keeners from getting to the player development complex for an early start.
Discussion:
MLB.com, Bluebird Banter and baseballmusings.com
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Trimmed-down Alek Manoah ready to kick butt, rather than the other way around
Trimmed-down Alek Manoah ready to kick butt, rather than the other way around
Discussion:
The Athletic and Bluebird Banter
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs ‘waiting’ on Cody Bellinger for serious contract talks — MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said on Monday the team is “waiting” on free agent Cody Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, to engage in contract negotiations. Though the sides have had “discussions,” …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Chicago Sun Times, Marquee Sports Network, Cubs Insider, Chicago Tribune, Bleacher Nation and MLB Trade Rumors
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Why NL champion Diamondbacks think they'll be even better in 2024 | Nightengale's Notebook — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — There's no swagger when you enter the Arizona Diamondbacks clubhouse, but there's an abundance of confidence. — There's no arrogance; there's self-assurance.
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Arizona Sports, DraftKings Network, AZ Snake Pit, Pinstripe Alley and MLB Trade Rumors
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:
Four questions the Mariners face in spring training — PEORIA, Ariz. — As the third day of workouts for Mariners pitchers and catchers ended Saturday afternoon with a cloudless sky and the temperature reaching 76 degrees, and Tuesday's first official full-squad workout just days away, this spring training has been, well, normal.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bleacher Nation and Battery Power
Alex Pavlovic / NBC Sports Bay Area & California:
Giants fan favorite Sandoval to join camp as non-roster invitee — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants will honor their 2014 team in August, and with Brandon Crawford still a free agent, they have been without any members of that roster for the first time. That's about to change.
Andrew Golden / Washington Post:
Nationals are no longer for sale, managing principal owner Mark Lerner says — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Lerner family is no longer exploring a sale of the Washington Nationals, Mark Lerner, the club's managing principal owner, told The Washington Post on Monday.
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Japan Times, Yahoo Sports, Forbes, MLB Trade Rumors and The Athletic
Associated Press:
Phillies' Bryce Harper accepts move to first base, eyes longer deal — CLEARWATER, Fla. — Bryce Harper wants to finish his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, playing into his 40s and perhaps gloving a throw at first base for the final out of a World Series.
Lynn Worthy / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals' highly touted prospect Tekoah Roby will introduce himself in big-league camp — Video by Allie Schallert, aschallert@post-dispatch.com — JUPITER, Fla. — Tekoah Roby and Tink Hence were just two high school baseball players whose pursuit of big-league dreams brought them to Hoover, Alabama, in the summer of 2019.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Evan Drellich / The Athletic:
Sacramento emerging as front-runner to host Oakland A's from 2025-27 — Sacramento is the front-runner to host the A's from 2025-27 before they move to Las Vegas, a person briefed on the team's search process told The Athletic on Friday. — Salt Lake City and a return to the Oakland Coliseum …
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NBC Sports Bay Area …, Las Vegas Review-Journal, MLB Trade Rumors, Mercury News and Athletics Nation
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Scott Ostler / San Francisco Chronicle:
Oakland in talks with MLB to get expansion team, if city extends A's lease
Oakland in talks with MLB to get expansion team, if city extends A's lease
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Athletics Nation and NBC Sports Bay Area …
Tim Keown / ESPN:
Athletics discuss potential lease extension with local government
Athletics discuss potential lease extension with local government
Discussion:
NBC Sports Bay Area …
Tanya Basu / Morning Call:
Why did the Lehigh Valley get so much snow from sleeper winter storm? Here's what happened. — A perfect storm of weather events led to part of region getting more than a foot of snow — For the second time this week, Lehigh Valley residents woke up to snow.
Discussion:
Delaware County Times and New Jersey Online