Top News:
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
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.
Matt Gelb / The Athletic:
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.
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Sources: Phillies, Zack Wheeler agree to 3-year, $126M extension — Zack Wheeler has reached an agreement on a three-year extension that begins in 2025 and runs through the 2027 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, the team announced Monday, bypassing the possibility that the ace pitcher will become a free agent in the fall.
ESPN:
Former Kansas City Royals infielder UL Washington dies at 70 — Former major league middle infielder UL Washington, who was known for his time playing in Kansas City and his trademark toothpick, died over the weekend after a reported battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
Discussion:
Kansas City Star, New York Post, Plain Dealer, Royals Review, Yahoo Sports and baseballmusings.com
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
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.
Discussion:
CNN, Mercury News and New York Post
Martín Gallegos / MLB.com:
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.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and NBC Sports Bay Area …
Associated Press:
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.
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Dodgers on alert for pitch-tipping by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rest of staff — In his first spring start, Yamamoto's grips could be seen on the TV broadcast — GLENDALE, Ariz. - In making the jump from Japan to MLB, Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have to deal with major-league hitters.
Discussion:
Dodgers Nation, True Blue LA and The Athletic
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Athletic and MLB Trade Rumors
Tim Healey / Newsday:
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.
Discussion:
Newsday, New York Post and Yahoo Sports
Bill Plaschke / Los Angeles Times:
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!”
Discussion:
Dodgers Nation
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
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 …
Discussion:
masslive.com, MLB Trade Rumors, Dodgers Nation, New Jersey Online and True Blue LA
