The Latest Breaking News from Baseball

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It’s the constant refrain of escapees from Elmira and East Rutherford: South Florida has no seasons. Not so. Saturday is opening day for Grapefruit League spring-training baseball for five Major League teams in three South Florida ballparks — for fans, it’s Christmas every day.

Assistant Josh Elander will serve as the Volunteers acting head coach.

He wasn’t fully in the batter’s box and alert to Mariners lefty Robbie Ray as the 15-second clock wound under 8 seconds in the bottom of the first inning. Umpire Ryan Blakney called time and signaled strike one against Machado.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Inside a tavern area at Tropicana Field, there is laughter and conversation. A Suncoast Tiger Bay meeting with Rays president Brian Auld has just wrapped up early Thursday evening, and members are now mingling with politicians and team executives.

Here’s what’s new in baseball this year.

The Buckeyes are now a game below .500 #GoBucks

PITTSBURGH — Could we start talking actual baseball, please?

PHOENIX — Noah Syndergaard glanced down, touched the tips of his index fingers together, then sighed as he recalled his frustrations with last season.

PEORIA, Ariz. — Evan White likes to look at the hidden blessings of the two-year ordeal that brought his promising Mariners’ career to a screeching halt. Like being able to be there for the birth of his son, Kade, last August. It’s a healthy way to process a miserable stretch…

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — When reliever Ryan Thompson found out Saturday he had lost his arbitration case to the Rays, he said he was “absolutely” disappointed with the result. He was somewhat philosophical about the process. He was even a bit flip, saying he was thrilled to still make…

NBC Sports Chicago’s broadcast of the White Sox’ spring-training opener Saturday will include the timer in its score bug. “Early on, it may not be perfect, but it’s new to MLB and us,” vice president of content John Schippman said.