Diamondbacks veteran was ‘blindsided’ getting cut before Arizona's World Series run  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. − The Arizona Diamondback stunned the baseball world with their greatest season in 22 years, reaching the World Series, but their longest-tenured player in franchise history couldn't bear to watch.

Zack Wheeler, Phillies agree to 3-year, $126 million contract extension: Sources  —  When Zack Wheeler first joined the Phillies, he sat in the club level at Citizens Bank Park and declared his intentions.  “I want to pitch at the top tier,” he said in December 2019.  He had never received a Cy Young Award vote.

Giants manager Bob Melvin implements new policy for national anthem  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — There's a new sheriff in town in San Francisco, and his name is manager Bob Melvin, who is requiring every person in the Giants dugout to stand on the field for the national anthem.

Sonny Gray leaves start abruptly with hamstring issue; Cardinals shut out, offense scarce  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Twenty pitches and gobs of groundballs into his scheduled start, Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray was greeted at the mound by his catcher, an athletic trainer and, soon, his manager.

Gelof ‘right where he needs to be’ in hot spring start  —  MESA, Ariz. — Opening Day is still a few weeks away but Zack Gelof already appears to be locked in for the season.  —  Gelof added to his hot start this spring with a pair of doubles in Sunday's 5-2 A's victory over the Rangers at Hohokam Stadium.

Ed Ott, World Series-winning catcher for Pirates, dies at 72  —  PITTSBURGH — Ed Ott, a former major league catcher and coach who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died Sunday.  He was 72.  —  Ott died in the central Pennsylvania town of Danville, according to the Pirates.

Be like Tommy?  Dave Roberts faces must-win season to ensure Dodgers legacy  —  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)  —  He stands up at his spartan desk on a dull February morning and grins as if handed a gift.  —  “Dude this is so good, so much fun!” he says.  “I can't wait to get to work every day!”

Can James Paxton deliver again?  The Dodgers are counting on it  —  His check-engine light was illuminated, and his gas gauge was nearing empty, but James Paxton had little choice but to ignore those warning signs as July turned to August last summer.  —  The Boston Red Sox were 56-50 …

Brandon Nimmo makes delayed exhibition debut for Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Right on time, Brandon Nimmo made his delayed debut Sunday.  —  He went 0-for-2 and played four innings in leftfield in his first spring training game, a 5-2, six-inning, rain-shortened loss to the Astros.

MRI for Blue Jays' Alek Manoah shows ‘no structural concern’  —  Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah, on his way back from a topsy-turvy season that saw him land back in the minor leagues, felt some soreness during a bullpen session on Friday at the team's training facility in Dunedin, Florida.

Sources: Giants, Matt Chapman agree on $54 million deal  —  Matt Chapman, regarded as one of the best defensive infielders in baseball, agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday.  —  The deal includes opt-outs after the first and second year of the agreement.