Yankees’ Girardi: CC Sabathia not that far behind other starters
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:58 pm ET) Yankees manager Joe Girardi called CC Sabathia‘s progress this spring “positive,” despite the veteran lefty heading into his final exhibition start Friday having posted an 11.57 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.

“The fact that he was able to pitch on his turns, the fact that he was able to throw a number of pitches, his velocity was better; I thought that was all good,” Girardi said, per ESPN.

Sabathia, who is coming off knee surgery in July, is expected to throw 80-85 pitches Friday against the Nationals. He’s slated to make his first regular season start Thursday against the Blue Jays.

“He makes one more start in the season and he’s where everybody else is,” Girardi said. “I don’t really consider him that far behind. We chose to do this because we had guys coming off injuries and we said we were going to take it slow. If their pitch count is a little bit less the first start, so be it. We’ll deal with that.”

Yankees’ Girardi: Really pleased with what A-Rod did this spring
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:49 pm ET) Yankees manager Joe Giradi was asked Friday about what has surprised him most this spring training. The first answer Girardi gave was the play of embattled veteran Alex Rodriguez, who will be the team’s starting DH after serving a season-long suspension in 2014 for using performance-enhancing drugs.

“Really pleased with what Alex did,” Girardi said. “I’ve said all along, I thought Alex was going to help us. But until you get into it, I mean, it’s two years since he’s played. I wasn’t 100 percent sure. I mean, if I were a betting man, I would have bet on him playing well. But there’s still that … you gotta see it after two years of not playing and being 39 1/2 years old.”

Rodriguez is batting .286 (12 for 42) with one double, three home runs, four RBI, six runs, eight walks and 10 strikeouts in 18 spring games.

Marlins reassign Solano, Valdespin to minor-league camp
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(12:49 pm ET) The Marlins trimmed their big-league roster down to 27 players on Friday, reassigning second baseman Jordany Valdespin and catcher Jhonatan Solano down to minor-league camp, per the Palm Beach Post.

Valdespin batted .378 with eight RBI over 37 at-bats this spring. Solano went 7 for 15 with six RBI in Grapefruit League play.

Braves release Wandy Rodriguez; Eric Stults in line for rotation spot?
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(12:44 pm ET) The Braves released pitcher Wandy Rodriguez on Friday, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Rodriguez was competing Eric Stults for the fifth and final rotation spot, but revealed he was dealing with a shoulder issue after Tuesday’s Grapefruit League start against the Astros. The move could open the door for Stults. The team is expected to announce that he is in the rotation later on Friday, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Rodriguez went 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA in six starts. He had a 23:8 K:BB ratio over 23 innings of work this spring.

Report: Rafael Soriano in talks with multiple teams; deal not imminent
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(12:35 pm ET) Free agent closer Rafael Soriano has engaged in conversations with multiple teams this spring, though a deal does not appear imminent at the moment, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports. According to a report last week by ESPN1500.com, the Twins were among the teams that checked in on Soriano this spring.

Soriano, 35, posted a 3.19 ERA over 62 innings last season with the Nationals. He lost his role as the team’s closer late in the season after his ERA skyrocketed from 1.10 after July 27.

Report: Rockies will evaluate Bergman, Butler for fifth rotation spot
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(12:22 pm ET) With Jon Gray likely out of the race for the fifth spot in the Rockies’ rotation, the club will evaluate Christian Bergman and Eddie Butler over the weekend before making a final decision, according to the Denver Post.

Bergman is slated to pitch in a Cactus League game Friday against the Mariners. He has 5.52 ERA over 14 2/3 innings of work this spring. Butler will face Seattle on Saturday. He owns a 3.07 ERA over 14 2/3 innings this spring.

Rockies SP Jon Gray gets back on track in minor-league game
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(12:17 pm ET) Rockies pitcher Jon Gray bounced back in a minor-league game Thursday on the back fields at Salt River.

Gray allowed seven runs — six earned — in just two-thirds of an inning Saturday against the Cubs and reported a groin strain after that outing. He got back on track Thursday, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks while striking out four in four innings against the Diamondbacks.

“This is the best I’ve felt all spring,” Gray said, per the Denver Post. “I got over it today. My problem is not attacking the zone no matter what the situation is. You have to be the aggressor no matter what.”

Though he is still in camp, Gray is likely off the Opening Day radar, per the Post.

Angels OF Josh Hamilton will not be suspended
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(12:11 pm ET) Major League Baseball announced Friday that Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will not be suspended after an arbitrator decided he did not violate his drug treatment program.

“The issue of whether Josh Hamilton violated his treatment program was submitted to the Treatment Board established under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the league announced in a press release. “The MLB representatives and the Players Association representatives on the Treatment Board deadlocked on that issue, with MLB taking the position that Hamilton violated his treatment program and is subject to discipline by the Commissioner.

“Under the procedures of the Program, an outside arbitrator was appointed to break the tie, and the arbitrator ruled that Josh Hamilton’s conduct did not violate his treatment program. As a result of that decision, the Office of the Commissioner is not permitted to suspend or impose any discipline on Hamilton. The Office of the Commissioner disagrees with the decision, and will seek to address deficiencies in the manner in which drugs of abuse are addressed under the Program in the collective bargaining process.”

Hamilton, who is expected to miss the start of the season due to offseason shoulder surgery, was suspended from baseball from 2004-06 for issues related to cocaine and alcohol abuse. He admitted to MLB he experienced a relapse in late 2014, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reported in late February. A source also told Heyman that Hamilton confessed to going on a binge that involved cocaine.

While Hamilton won’t face a suspension, the Angels released a statement Friday saying they were “disappointed” with Hamilton’s conduct.

“The Office of the Commissioner informed the Angels that an arbitrator determined Josh Hamilton’s recent conduct did not violate his treatment program under MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, and therefore the Commissioner is not permitted to suspend or otherwise discipline Hamilton. The Club had no involvement in the proceeding or the ruling.

“The Angels have serious concerns about Josh’s conduct, health and behavior and we are disappointed that he has broken an important commitment which he made to himself, his family, his teammates and our fans. We are going to do everything possible to assure he receives proper help for himself and for the well-being of his family.”

Nationals RP Casey Janssen plays catch on Friday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:47 am ET) Nationals reliever Casey Janssen played a round of catch on Friday, prior to Washington’s Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, per the Washington Post.

Janssen underwent an MRI on Monday, which revealed tendinitis in his right shoulder. He has been sidelined since March 23 with the injury, and remains without a timetable for return.

Nationals’ Denard Span takes full batting practice on Friday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:43 am ET) Nationals outfielder Denard Span took full batting practice prior to Washington’s Grapefruit League game against the Yankees on Friday, according to MASN Sports. Span is working his way back from core muscle surgery March 9. He is expected to stay back in Florida for extended spring training when camp ends.