Longtime Padres closer Heath Bell calls it a career at 37
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(5:50 pm ET) Heath Bell, who was released by the Nationals on Monday, told Corey Brock of MLB.com on Tuesday he has decided to call it a career.

“My kids wanted me home,” Bell said. “What’s more important: my kids or the big leagues? I’ve already accomplished more than I ever dreamed of. Now it’s time to help them accomplish their dreams.”

Bell, 37, spent his MLB career with five different teams, but saw his most successful stint with the Padres from 2007-2011. The right-hander earned three trips to the All-Star game during his stint with the Padres, registering a 2.53 ERA with 134 saves as the team’s closer. He reached at least 40 saves in each of his three All-Star seasons.

Bell finished his big-league career with a 3.49 ERA and 168 saves.

Padres’ Ian Kennedy continues to work on tweak to delivery
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(5:46 pm ET) Padres starting pitcher Ian Kennedy, who is 0-1 with a 5.91 ERA through four spring appearances (three starts), will pitch in a minor-league game Wednesday, per U-T San Diego.

Kennedy will continue to work on a new adjustment to his windup, which he began to tinker with following a rough outing March 10 against the Giants (three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings).

“It was 50-50,” Kennedy recalled Tuesday. “One pitch, it wouldn’t be good, pushing the ball, and that’s why some balls were running back over (the plate). And the next pitch, I’d feel really good. It was like, man, what’s going on?

“I saw one pitch (watching video) and I was like, yeah, I’m turning too much, and I changed it. Some guys like watching and picking apart their bad video. I think it’s just going to instill some bad visuals. I try to watch the good stuff.”

Kennedy said he has felt much better since fixing his delivery.

“It was just incorporating it in my bullpen, just doing it more often,” Kennedy said. “I had to watch a little film, just to see what my shoulders did, instead of going by feel. … When I’m flying open and going horizontal, I’m pushing the ball and the ball’s flat. Whereas, when I think of my hips going one over the other, everything has more of a down angle, a little more life.”

Rockies may carry three catchers on Opening Day roster
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(5:40 pm ET) The Rockies are looking more and more like they will have a third catching option on their Opening Day roster, reports the Denver Post.

Wilin Rosario, considered the third catcher, is expected to make the roster, but also provide depth at first base behind Justin Morneau.

“Honestly, the way that it looks like it’s heading, is if we carry the two catchers in Hundley and McKenry, then Rosario lines up now as that half half-catcher who plays first base,” manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday before the Rockies played the White Sox.”

Weiss cited having Rosario and Michael McKenry as flexibility off the bench, especially on offense.

“This allows you to pinch-hit a catcher during a game because you are protected, which is huge,” he said. “The way we design our roster, most of the time, is that we are carrying 13 pitchers — with eight guys in the bullpen. That leaves us short on the bench.

“If you have a four-man bench and you can’t use your catcher — because you are afraid to lose your backup catcher — then you have a three-man bench. So you are really short-handed. Having a guy who can go behind the plate allows you to pinch-hit a catcher.”

Ausmus: Victor Martinez won’t play 1B for Tigers anytime soon
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(5:38 pm ET) Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters that designated hitter Victor Martinez won’t play first base anytime soon, according to the Detroit Free Press. He is currently Detroit’s fourth option “right now” at first base, according to Ausmus.

Martinez, who is making his way back from knee surgery, made his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday. He has been held without a hit in three at-bats this spring.

Yankees’ Pirela on outfield collision: Nobody wants to go through that
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(5:30 pm ET) Yankees utility man Jose Pirela revealed he was scared when he hit the warning track floor following his outfield-wall collision on Sunday, according to NJ.com.

“Yes, a little,” he said. “I tried to relax and stay positive that everything was going to be alright.”

Pirela was stretchered off the field with a concussion, and was discharged from the hospital Sunday night after an MRI and a CT scan camp back normal. He said he no longer feels any dizziness on Tuesday, but is still experiencing soreness in his neck and in his back from Sunday’s collision. Manager Joe Girardi told the paper he still has some hurdles to pass before he is cleared for game action.

“Nobody wants to go through something like this,” Pirela said. “I’m going to keep working and hopefully everything comes out alright.”

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard hits third home run of spring
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(5:29 pm ET) Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 4 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Braves. It was Howard’s third home run of spring training and eighth RBI.

Howard, who also struck out once, is now hitting .217 with 13 strikeouts this spring.

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons continues blistering spring
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(5:25 pm ET) Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons continues to swing a hot bat during spring training. Simmons went 1 for 3 Tuesday with two RBI and one run scored. Simmons hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning off Paul Clemens, his second of the spring.

Simmons is now hitting .467 with 12 RBI this spring.

Report: Tanaka the favorite over Sabathia to start Opening Day
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(5:22 pm ET) Masahiro Tanaka appears to be the favorite over CC Sabathia to start on Opening Day for the Yankees on April 6 against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, according to ESPN.

Sabathia has started on Opening Day 11 times, including the last six years with the Yankees. Tanaka has done it once, while pitching in Japan.

Tanaka went 13-5 with a 2.77 ERA last season, and has not allowed a run through 5 2/3 innings of work in Grapefruit League play. Sabathia is coming off a knee injury that limited him to just eight starts in 2014. He owns a whopping 11.57 ERA this spring.

Pirates’ McCutchen has no worries about being ready for start of season
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(5:21 pm ET) Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen played four innings and went 0 for 2 on Tuesday against the Orioles in his return from a lower-body injury. 

“There was no sense pushing it,” McCutchen said on Tuesday following his first game action since March 12, per MLB.com. “I’ll make it worse when it counts. I wasn’t worried about being ready for the season. That was never an issue.”

McCutchen has made just 15 plate appearances this spring. He said he will play in minor-league games if he has to in order to be ready for the season.

“He’s in a good place,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He said he felt good today. If he needs at-bats, we can get him six-to-eight a day in Pirate City. I don’t have any concerns about him at all.”

Braves pitcher Manny Banuelos throws three scoreless innings
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(5:21 pm ET) Braves pitcher Manny Banuelos tossed three scoreless innings Tuesday against the Phillies. The young lefty, who’s role on the pitching staff has yet to be determined, gave up four hits and added two strikeouts to his totals. 

It helped to lower his ERA to 9.45 over 6 2/3 innings this spring.