DUNEDIN, Fla. -- J.P. Arencibia was out deer hunting somewhere in Canada last November when his cell phone began getting hit with a flush of text messages.

"People were saying, 'Congratulations, you're coming home to Miami to play for the Marlins...

PHOENIX -- For the first time in 10 years, Carlos Gomez did not play winter ball in the Dominican Republic before reporting to spring training. As always with native players, there was pressure to suit up but he would not relent.

"My son (Yandel)...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tommy Hanson did not shed a tear this winter when Major League Baseball eliminated the first-and-third pickoff move in which the pitcher fakes a throw to third and either throws or fakes a throw to first.

"I hated that play -- I'm...

PHOENIX -- While working with Hyun-Jin Ryu in the first week of spring training, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was reminded of another top-heavy left-hander who used to pitch for the Dodgers: Fernando Valenzuela.

"He has a presence about him," ...

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Taijuan Walker knows what he has to show before the Mariners deem the 20-year-old wunderkind ready for the major leagues: better command and a more consistent curveball.

He spent the winter working on a new curve, and he unveiled...