Tampa Bay Rays withdraw from planned $1.3 billion ballpark in St. Petersburg, citing storms, delays  —  The Tampa Bay Rays withdrew Thursday from a $1.3 billion project to construct a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field, citing a hurricane and delays that likely drove up the proposal's cost.

Rafael Devers says he's OK to be DH on Opening Day; Lucas Giolito to start on IL  —  FORT MYER, Fla. — Roughly one month after Rafael Devers was adamant he did not want to serve as designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox, he has changed his stance.  —  On Thursday with the Red Sox playing …

Shohei Ohtani and four other Japanese players come home to start the MLB season  —  TOKYO — It's only two games to start the Major League Baseball season — the World Series-champion Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome.  —  For the record, the MLB regular season consists of almost 2,500 games.

Tom Izzo is having too much fun to stop coaching now  —  As his peers step aside, Michigan State's Tom Izzo is still coaching — and still winning basketball games.  —  Just now  —  Tom Izzo did it again.  —  Just when you thought his era of Big Ten dominance might be coming to an end …

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows ruled out for Opening Day with nerve injury  —  The Detroit Tigers will be without their center fielder and leadoff hitter for Opening Day.  —  Parker Meadows — a key player who sparked last year's 31-11 run to the postseason …

Giancarlo Stanton's injury woes not limited to his elbows  —  Giancarlo Stanton is said to be dealing with a chronic calf issue as well as the elbow injuries, but the arm pain is the bigger problem.  —  Memorial Day is one optimistic estimate heard for Stanton now.  —  I think the Yankees would easily take that.

Rays pick up 2026 team option on Yandy Díaz, add vesting option for 2027  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have picked up their $12 million team option on Yandy Díaz for the 2026 season.  —  The Rays announced Friday that they had added a vesting option for 2027, pending 2026 performance thresholds.

Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford to open season on injured list with sore elbow  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford will start the season on the injured list because of soreness in his throwing elbow.  —  Bradford had an MRI this week that came back clean …

Cincinnati Reds Spencer Steer: Opening Day lineup ‘still a possibility’  —  GOODYEAR, Arizona - Spencer Steer is swinging a bat, feeling no pain in that pesky right shoulder and, yes, keeping his mind on being in the Opening Day lineup and avoiding the injured list.