Giants add veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed, ending chance of Brandon Crawford return  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The San Francisco Giants signed veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed to a minor-league deal Monday in a move that was more about the subtext than the actual news.

Sources: Cody Bellinger, Cubs agree on 3-year, $80 million deal  —  Center fielder Cody Bellinger and the Cubs are in agreement on a three-year, $80 million contract, sources told ESPN, ending a prolonged free agency with a return engagement after his excellent 2023 season with Chicago.

José DeLeón, MLB pitcher for 13 seasons, dies at age 63  —  MLB, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — José DeLeón, a major league pitcher for 13 seasons who led the National League in strikeouts for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1989, has died.

ALEK MANOAH UNPLUGGED: Blue Jays pitcher candidly unpacks his struggles and shares his verve for the future  —  DUNEDIN — It's a quiet, almost blissful Sunday morning at the Blue Jays player development complex.  —  STORY CONTINUES BELOW  —  This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

As MLB reduces one pitch clock time, Spencer Strider worries ‘injury epidemic’ will worsen  —  NORTH PORT, Fla. - Spencer Strider, like any data-driven student of baseball, is not offering concrete explanations for the rash of Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgeries in the game.

Free-agent utility man Kiké Hernández is down to four teams.  Here's how he'd fit with each  —  Free-agent super-utility man Kiké Hernández is choosing between four teams, according to sources briefed on his discussions.  The finalists, in no particular order …

Shohei Ohtani will make Los Angeles Dodgers' debut Tuesday  —  Shohei Ohtani will make his Los Angeles Dodgers spring training debut on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, who share the facility at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.  —  Ohtani will be the designated hitter as he plays …

Twins To Acquire Manuel Margot  —  4:55pm: The two clubs have now officially announced the trade.  The Twins placed right-hander Josh Winder on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot for Margot, announcing that Winder has a scapular stress fracture.  His exact timeline in unclear …

Jackie Robinson statue cleats heading to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum  —  WICHITA, Kan. — The bronze cleats from a Jackie Robinson statue that was cut at the ankles and stolen last month will be donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, League 42's executive director told ESPN on Friday.