Cubs pitchers worked on pickoffs on Monday as they do throughout camp. Jon Lester has struggled in that area in the past. He attempted a few on Monday. One was high and away, another he thought he may have balked. It's a work in progress.
Aroldis Chapman was not at the Yankees facility today for "personal reasons", according to Manager Joe Girardi. Expected to come in tomorrow.
Jacob deGrom and manager Terry Collins discuss the Mets ace skipping a session throwing off a mound Monday. DeGrom recently slipped and tweaked his leg groin/upper leg. He should be back on a mound Wednesday.
Carlos Beltran has arrived early for what could be his final season as a Yankee. Beltran is in the last season of his three-year, $45 million deal. The Yankees hope that top prospect Aaron Judge can be their starting right fielder in 2017. Position players don't officially report until Wednesday.
A sight the Pirates have waited for all spring (all four days of it): Gerrit Cole (rib inflammation) throws off a mound for the first time.
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Detroit Tigers outfielders Justin Upton and Cameron Maybin chatting while playing catch
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Joey Bats is here
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Detroit Tigers DH Victor Martinez on disappointing 2015 season: "You don't win games on paper. That was a lesson for a lot of people." Martinez noted how fierce the AL Central will be again this year. "This division has always been pretty tough...there's nothing given."
The Mets will wear their 1986 throwback uniforms every Sunday home game during the upcoming season.
[h=1]Ryan Braun moving back to LF in 2016
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The Brewers' All-Star slugger had played right field the past two seasons after holding left field for most of his career. The team is looking to give youngster Domingo Santana, acquired in the Carlos Gomez trade, a major role in right field.
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The Brewers' All-Star slugger had played right field the past two seasons after holding left field for most of his career. The team is looking to give youngster Domingo Santana, acquired in the Carlos Gomez trade, a major role in right field.
[h=1]Reds' Bruce tried to ignore trade talk
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Jay Bruce showed up at Cincinnati camp early, resolutely putting aside an offseason of being on the trading block: "I tried my best not to think about it [being traded]. Until I walk out on the field Opening Day as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, who knows what will happen? But I'm a Red until I'm not."
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Jay Bruce showed up at Cincinnati camp early, resolutely putting aside an offseason of being on the trading block: "I tried my best not to think about it [being traded]. Until I walk out on the field Opening Day as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, who knows what will happen? But I'm a Red until I'm not."
Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval said he didn't weigh himself during the offseason. Manager John Farrell said on Jan. 20 that Sandoval was "roughly 20 pounds lighter than the last game he played for us in 2015."
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Andrew McCutchen still has three years left on the six-year deal with the Pirates he signed in 2012, but if Pittsburgh wants to keep him longer he's interested.
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Bryce Harper on the prospect of a $400 million contract in his future: "I mean, I've got three years to play. I've got three years to do everything I can to play this game. The $400 (million) or whatever everybody was talking about, money, you can't put a limit on players. You can't put a limit on what they do. If that's on the field, off the field, everything they do. Everybody says the sky's the limit. But we've been on the moon."
Pitching depth was obviously a top priority this offseason and it has led to a surplus of arms for the Tigers in spring training. That's a good problem to have. Realistically, how many spots are open? The 5th starter spot is still up for grabs and one, maybe two spots remain open in the bullpen, manager Brad Ausmus said.
Masahiro Tanaka threw 31 pitches in a bullpen session today as he recovers from offseason elbow cleanup surgery, but none of the top Yankees brass could provide a definitive answer if he would be able to start on Opening Day.
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The 5th starter spot on the Tigers roster is likely going to come down to Daniel Norris, Shane Greene, Matt Boyd or Buck Farmer. Amongst the candidates for the few bullpen jobs available: Bruce Rondon, Michael Fulmer, Bobby Parnell, Kyle Ryan. Depending on how starter competition shakes out, both Greene and Farmer could compete for reliever spot as well.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB is close to an announcement on at least two of the three domestic violence cases involving Yasiel Puig, Aroldis Chapman and Jose Reyes. "It's important to get these as right as possible," Manfred told reporters at a news conference in Arizona.
