Report: Yankes have come closest to landing Phillies’ Hamels
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:55 am ET) The Yankees have come the closest of any team to landing Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels in trade discussions this offseason, the Boston Globe reports.

The Yankees are reported to have offered a package of prospects that has given the Phillies a baseline for future talks. Hamels has stopped discussing trade possibilities and indicated he was looking forward to pitching for a contender again.

Hamels went 9-9 with a 2.46 ERA and 198:59 K:BB ratio in 204 2/3 innings last season.

Rays’ Drew Smyly (shoulder) could miss start of season
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:49 am ET) Rays manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that pitcher Drew Smyly has been slowed by shoulder tendinitis, not his offseason finger injury, the Tampa Tribune reports.

Cash added that “it’s fair to say there is concern” when asked if Smyly would be ready for the start of the regular season. It was reported Saturday that Smyly was tentatively expected to throw a simulated game Monday and make his spring debut Saturday. If that timetable changes, the team may have to plan to be without the pitcher in the initial rotation.

Tigers’ Ausmus: Miguel Cabrera ‘looked good’ taking grounders
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:44 am ET) Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera has been cleared to take ground balls, MLive.com reports.

Manager Brad Ausmus said Sunday that Cabrera, who is working his way back from an ankle injury, “looked good” taking grounders Saturday. The first baseman has yet to be cleared for lateral movement.

Cabrera hit .313/.371/.524 with 25 home runs and 109 RBI in 611 at-bats in 2014.

Yankees’ Brendan Ryan feeling better, timetable unknown
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:39 am ET) Yankees infielder Brendan Ryan (back) is feeling better but still doesn’t know when he’ll be ready to play, MLB.com reports.

Ryan indicated Monday he was targeting a late-week return from the injury, which he suffered doing bicep curls, but he has yet to take the field. Ryan hit .167/.211/.202 in 114 at-bats in 2014.

Orioles’ Showalter doesn’t like Dariel Alvarez admiring home run
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:34 am ET) Orioles outfield prospect Dariel Alvarez smacked a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in Saturday’s 7-6 loss to the Red Sox, but manager Buck Showalter didn’t like the way he admired his home run coming out of the batter’s box, the Baltimore Sun reports.

“He did a couple things that got him noticed today, some good and some bad,” Showalter said. “He had a good at-bat. Is that the first home run he hit in his career? I don’t think so. Somehow, I thought it might have been. He’s very exuberant. He likes to play. He’s a good kid. We like him. He does a lot of things well.”

Alvarez, who is 3 for 5 with one home run this spring, hit .306/.330/.472 with 15 home runs, 87 RBI and eight stolen bases in 532 at-bats with Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk in 2014.

Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez draws start at third base Sunday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:21 am ET) Yankees infielder Alex Rodriguez is batting fifth and starting at third base in Sunday’s lineup against the Nationals.

It’ll be the first game at the position for Rodriguez this spring and comes after manager Joe Girardi told reporters Saturday that he would see time at third base this week. It’ll be his first game at third base since Sept. 2013 after missing last season due to suspension.

The Yankees re-signed third baseman Chase Headley to a four-year, $52-million deal this offseason, leaving Rodriguez likely headed for the designated-hitter role.

Yankees CC Sabathia: ‘I’m healthy and pain-free’
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(9:16 am ET) Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia is returning from knee surgery, which limited him to eight starts in 2014, but he said Thursday that he’s “pain-free,” the Star-Ledger reports.

“I’m excited that I’m healthy and pain-free,” Sabathia said.

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild believes that Sabathia can continue to be successful despite declining velocity in his fastball, which fell on average from 91.3 mph in 2013 to 89.6 mph in 2014, per Fangraphs.

“I think you saw a lot last year where [Sabathia] can get people out by pitching,” Rothschild said. “He may have more in the tank than people think.”

Manager Joe Girardi indicated that he’s always considered Sabathia a location pitcher, saying that “there’re a lot of pitchers who win a lot of games throwing 89 miles an hour.”

Sabathia added that “everything feels great” this spring. He posted a 5.28 ERA and 48:10 K:BB ratio in 46 innings last season.

Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts strives for stronger throws

(1:04 am ET) Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has struggled to release the ball with the velocity to get much-needed outs.  The 22-year-old is working to overcome nerves and make the necessary throws.

“Sometimes I catch the ball, see if it’s an easy out, and that’s when I get in trouble,” he said yesterday. “Pass it through (first baseman Mike) Napoli’s chest — that’s what I need to do. But don’t go light just because it looks easy.”

After spending the winter working out with Dustin Pedroia, he’s ready to unveil his new arm. The Red Sox are noticing the time he has put in to improve.  

“If you look at his arm stroke now compared to this time a year ago, it was longer last year,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “So he would cut the ball, it would sail, it would sink, it wouldn’t have the true backspin he’s generating now, which adds to the carry of throws. He’s done quite a bit of work on just maintaining a strong front side with his direction and a shorter arm stroke to give that true rotation to the throws.”

Now that Bogaerts is showing a much more powerful arm, Red Sox infield coach Brian Butterfield is optimistic that his hard work will pay off.

“Bogey is in great shape, has worked hard in the offseason to get better, and that’s one of the things that sticks out to us,” Butterfield said. “We know we have a guy playing in the middle of our infield that cares about getting better and he’ll do anything he can to move up in that regard.”

Mets shortstop Matt Reynolds making push for opening day roster
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(12:35 am ET) Mets prospect Matt Reynolds has not taken long to get acclimated to life in the pros this spring. General manager Sandy Alderson thinks he’s close to making the roster, reports the New York Post.

“He’s probably not that far away from playing in the major leagues,” Alderson said Saturday. “He looks solid, confident in the infield, so he’s done a nice job.”

Reynolds, who hit a walkoff home run Friday, is making it a tough decision between he and Ruben Tejada.

“I came in here with the attitude I’m going to compete my [butt] off to try to win the job,” Reynolds said. “I am just going to come here and compete every day, and by me competing I’m making Flo’ better, I’m making Tejada better and vice versa. By us competing together it makes us stronger and better players.”

Alderson wouldn’t say if Reynolds would still make the team if he doesn’t win the starting job.

“People try to pigeon-hole players as utility guys, and that’s not fair,” Alderson said. “We’re going to let it play out and see what happens. We’re happy to have him. He’s a nice player.”

Rays’ Drew Smyly expected to make spring debut next Saturday
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(3/7/2015) Rays pitcher Drew Smyly is behind schedule this spring while recovering from a finger injury that kept him out of workouts for much of the winter, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

The team is staying cautious with Smyly, and he doesn’t know when exactly he will pitch. For now, Smyly is tentatively scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday and make his spring debut Saturday against the Orioles. It would allow him up to five spring training starts.