Top News:
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.
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Matt Gelb / The Athletic:
The Phillies' win-now window: What the Zack Wheeler extension means for 2025 — and beyond — As Zack Wheeler sat Monday morning in a cafeteria wearing a rumpled plain T-shirt, extolling the virtues of an organization that keeps throwing big money at star players, it had been 717 days since the Phillies crossed the Rubicon.
Discussion:
NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB Trade Rumors, Phillies Nation, Boston Herald and Associated Press
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.
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (elbow) might miss season — Initial imaging showed damage in the right elbow of Boston Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito that could cause him to miss the 2024 season, league sources told ESPN. — Giolito, who was expected to be the Red Sox's Opening Day starter …
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman bets on himself after ‘abnormal’ free agency — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - New San Francisco Giants infielder Matt Chapman will be perfectly honest with you. — He had no idea free agency would play out like this. — Neither did veteran agent Scott Boras.
Discussion:
The Athletic, NBC Sports Boston, ESPN, Associated Press and MLB Trade Rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
How severity of Sonny Gray's hamstring injury could cloud Cardinals' pitching depth — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Quicker than Sonny Gray gave the Cardinals a glimpse in the first inning Monday on what it could be like with him on the mound, the right-hander caused them to gulp in the second inning as he …
Discussion:
Associated Press, MLB Trade Rumors, Yahoo Sports, DraftKings Network, Bleacher Nation and The Athletic
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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:
MLB Trade Rumors, Associated Press and The Athletic
Buster Olney / ESPN:
Former AL MVP Josh Donaldson retires after 13-year career — Josh Donaldson, who won the American League MVP during a 13-year career, announced his retirement Monday. — Donaldson, 38, made the announcement on the podcast of former player Sean Casey. — Donaldson finishes his career …
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, Yahoo Sports, Plain Dealer, Royals Review and baseballmusings.com
Tony Andracki / Marquee Sports Network:
Spring Training Notebook: Bellinger's timeline, Cubs sim game action and injury updates — PEORIA, Ariz. — Monday represented another good test on Jordan Wicks' journey toward a possible spot in the Opening Day rotation. — Tasked with facing a Padres lineup that featured all of the team's star players …
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, Bleacher Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB.com
Charlie Creme / ESPN:
WOMEN'S BRACKETOLOGY: 2024 NCAA TOURNAMENT — Bracketology is hitting overdrive in its 21st season on ESPN.com. Champ Week is here, and we will frequently update our projection of the field of 68 right into Selection Sunday on March 17. Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon …
Discussion:
Swish Appeal, Troy Nunes Is An … and Chicago Tribune
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:
Mercury News, NBC Sports Bay Area … and Athletics Nation
