The Tigers realize now that they have little choice but to try to acquire a closer on the trade market this spring. They also realize that it won't be easy to find one. ...more

When Team USA gathered Monday for its first workout before the World Baseball Classic, the player all the other players were watching take batting practice was Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins. ...more

The World Baseball Classic desperately needs a Team USA that is desperate to win it. Finally, this time, we may have one. The American team that assembled Monday in Arizona was notable for how committed to the tournament (and to winning) these players are. ...more

Dusty Baker and Kirk Gibson had an angry pregame argument on Monday. The Reds wanted to use a designated hitter in their Cactus League game, and the Diamondbacks refused to allow it. ...more

R.A. Dickey will be the starting pitcher Friday night, when Team USA opens the World Baseball Classic with a game against Mexico. Team USA manager Joe Torre has yet to announce the rest of his pitching plans, but suggested that Derek Holland will start Sunday against Canada. ...more

The Reds have a solid team that won 97 games a year ago and added talent over the winter. But it's been more than a decade since this franchise had back-to-back winning seasons, and nearly four decades since the Reds won two straight division titles. ...more

The Reds won 97 games last year, and were going to be division favorites again, without doing anything drastic. So why did they come to spring training with the idea of trying two big moves that could be read as drastic? ...more

The Royals went out and found much-needed pitching, but with a team that has lost for as long as this one has, there will always be skepticism. ...more

Royals general manager Dayton Moore's big winter trade may have drawn criticism elsewhere, but it was a big hit in his own clubhouse. Now it's up to those players to prove that Moore was right when he decided this was the time for the Royals to go for it. ...more

Mike Hargrove last managed in the big leagues in 2007, but he'd like everyone to know that he still doesn't consider himself a retired manager. Hargrove, helping out the Indians in spring training, said Saturday that he'd still like to manage again. ...more