MLB

Blue Jays prospects head Down Under to hone their skills in winter ball
DUNEDIN, Fla. – A former collegiate football player, Anthony Alford is new to pro baseball. But the Blue Jays prospect has already taken his bat and glove Down Under.

Report: Mets’ Daniel Murphy says he disagrees with gay ‘lifestyle’
NEWARK, N.J. – Mets infielder Daniel Murphy says he disagrees with the “lifestyle” of people who are gay.

Batter Up … to speed: Spring baseball opens with changes designed to quicken games
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – With large, glowing red numbers, the timer on the centre-field wall at Goodyear Ballpark ticked down Tuesday, counting off seconds and ushering in change.

Baseball union boss Tony Clark says future spring training games could be played in Cuba
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Cuba could be a spring training destination once more.

Angels confirm OF Josh Hamilton is meeting with MLB officials about unspecified discipline
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is meeting with Major League Baseball officials about a disciplinary issue.

Russell Martin says he’s game to catch R.A. Dickey knuckleball with Blue Jays
DUNEDIN, Fla. – When Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey took to the mound for his bullpen session on the first day of camp Monday, personal catcher Josh Thole was waiting to receive the floater.

MLB makes small pace of game changes, passes on bigger steps such as pitch clocks
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Major League Baseball is slowly addressing the lagging pace of games.

Dogs days of February: A paws in sports calendar for poodles and pugs at Westminster
NEW YORK, N.Y. – “Let me have the …”

Baseball Commissioner Manfred makes it official – All-Star Game to be played in Miami in 2017
MIAMI – The Miami Marlins held a festive news conference Friday in anticipation of hosting the 2017 All-Star Game, with a colour guard, video highlights, a speech by Gov. Rick Scott and the introduction of more than half a dozen former All-Stars with ties to the team.

Canadian lefty Ryan Kellogg ready for NCAA season, second MLB draft
Ryan Kellogg knows exactly what to expect from this June’s MLB draft.
New MLB commissioner Rob Manfred predicts resolution in Orioles, Nationals television dispute
WASHINGTON – New baseball commissioner Rob Manfred predicts an end to the long-running dispute between the Nationals and Baltimore Orioles over payments to Washington from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which the teams co-own.

AP Interview: Manfred knows he’ll get pounded as MLB commissioner – his name is on the balls
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Rob Manfred knows he’ll get pounded now that he’s baseball commissioner — his name is printed in blue script on the sweet spot between the seams of every big league ball.

NFL, YouTube partner to post official clips and other programming to popular video site
Searching for Super Bowl highlights next week after the big game?
Several people familiar with deal to AP: Umpires, MLB reach agreement on 5-year labour contract
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Several people familiar with the deal say Major League Baseball and its umpires have reached agreement on a five-year labour contract.

Dodgers end Yankees’ 15-year streak as biggest spender, owe most tax
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Los Angeles Dodgers have ended the New York Yankees’ 15-year streak as Major League Baseball’s biggest spenders and owe more than $26.6 million in luxury tax.