Stars will be eased back to their full workloads, and role players will battle for MLB roster spots. Exhibitions are also a chance for prospects still a year or two away from the big leagues to make positive first impressions. SPRING TRAINING READING GUIDETop storylines | Fantasy baseball | Offseason grades Relative to the regular season, spring training games are a headache to figure out how to watch. They aren’t always on familiar TV channels, and some aren’t broadcast on TV at all....

Saunders, 28, never developed into an impact player in Seattle, and M’s management was open about moving him. The British Columbia native hit eight home runs and posted a .791 OPS in 263 plate appearances last season. In Toronto, he will take over for Melky Cabrera in left field. MORE: Braves sign Markakis | Red Sox, Tigers talking Cespedes-Porcello swap “We looked at alternatives for left field that made sense and were not optimistic....

New York is “fully intent on dealing” the 26-year-old starter before the July 31 trade deadline, rival evaluators told ESPN. The Dodgers are interested in acquiring the right-hander, according to a report from SNY, which cites unidentified league sources, while multiple other teams, including the Yankees and Astros, have been linked to him, as well. Syndergaard has regressed in 2019 as he holds a 7-5 record with a 4.33 ERA in 20 starts....

The team recently tried to swing a deal with the Baltimore Orioles to get left-handed pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez, 20, in exchange for Davis, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. But the Birds balked. — Sporting News selects Public Enemy No. 1 for every MLB team Still, the Mets aren't giving up. Puma reports they still are talking to the Orioles, as well as the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates, about a deal for Davis....

The hard-throwing lefty would likely bring a big bat to Cincinnati, so the team has openly discussed a trade involving Chapman, according to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro. The Reds are in need of an every-day left fielder with Ryan Ludwick now a free agent and Chris Heisey signed to the Dodgers. He has two more years of arbitration eligibility. Four of the team’s current five starters are set to hit the free-agent market after the 2015 season....

"Nothing imminent, but teams know he can he had," according to Passan. The 29-year-old right-hander won the 2013 American League Cy Young after finishing the season with a 21-3 record and 2.90 ERA. He is eligible for free agency after the 2014 season, and many believe that the Tigers' front office could fetch a big return by selling high on Scherzer. But after the Tigers traded fellow right-handed Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals for three players last week, some of the Scherzer buzz faded....

However, it is unclear if they actually have that luxury. While San Francisco has been better this year than some might have thought, the Giants still need to rebuild due to the team getting up there in age. Right now, Bumgarner is likely to net the best return in a deal. Maybe Jeff Samardzija could too, but due to his age and the amount of money left, he probably won’t get quite as much as MadBum....

Lawrie, 25, was the main piece for Oakland in the trade that sent 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays last offseason. Lawrie finished produced a .260/.299/.407 slash line, 16 home runs and 60 RBIs for the A’s last season. MORE: The 13 worst December trades, ranked | Possible trade destinations for Carlos Gonzalez Chicago was left thin in the infield after third baseman Gordon Beckham signed with the Braves as a free agent and the team declined its option on shortstop Alexei Ramirez....

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and MLS have scheduled a "major announcement" for Wednesday at 5 p.m. in downtown Atlanta, with commissioner Don Garber set to be in attendance. The development comes after Blank told Atlanta's 680 The Fan that "we're in the very final stages of doing our agreement" and teasing "a tremendous celebration of the sport" in mid-April. Atlanta would become the 23rd MLS franchise, with New York City FC and Orlando City SC joining the 19 existing clubs in 2015 and David Beckham's Miami team targeting a 2017 start....

The league managed to get through just two weeks of its 2020 schedule before being shut down as the world looked to stop the spread of the virus. After several months of inactivity, MLS returned in a “bubble” at Walt Disney World (right next to the NBA’s bubble) for a one-off tournament where the group-stage games also counted toward the regular season. Immediately after the Orlando tourney, teams resumed action for “Phase 1” of the return to the regular season, with each team playing six games within their own region through Sept....

MLS continues to grow, welcoming two new franchises in 2020, Inter Miami and Nashville SC, to expand to 26 teams overall. The league is on track to expand to 30 clubs by the 2022 season. To date, Mexico remains the dominant nation on a continental level in North America with the last 14 winners of the CONCACAF Champions League coming from Liga MX. MLS in comparison boasts just two champions from before the competition switched formats, with D....

Martino is currently manager of Atlanta United and has helped build the club into one of the strongest in MLS. Atlanta is preparing to face the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals as Martino prepares to leave the club after announcing that he would depart at the conclusion of the season before the playoffs kicked off. The former Barcelona and Argentina manager has been widely linked with the Mexico job, and Garber discussed that potential move while also speaking on the U....

Atlanta looks like the real deal Venezuelan star Josef Martinez was at the double as expansion franchise Atlanta produced a ruthless display to make it back-to-back wins against 10-man Chicago on Saturday. Atlanta embarrassed Minnesota 6-1 last week and Gerardo Martino’s men were at it again in front of a sell-out crowd, with an own goal and Hector Villalba inspiring the hosts. Brandon Vincent turned the ball into his own net in the fourth minute as Atlanta’s high octane style of play forced an error and it got better for the home side seven minutes later when Johan Kappelhof saw red for bringing down Martinez....

Returning from suspension, the former Manchester United star scored his first goals since mid-April, but his side could not help his team avoid its seventh loss in 13 outings this season. Ryan Hollingshead completed a nice team move to give Dallas the lead, which was doubled before halftime when Cristian Colman headed in. A goal from Carlos Gruezo put the visiting side in complete control 66 minutes in. But Ibrahimovic – earlier denied by the offside flag – drilled in his fourth MLS goal three minutes later to give his side a bit of hope....

The Revs, unbeaten in their past eight (7-0-1), padded their league-leading record (14-3-4) and extended their advantage atop the Eastern Conference to 14 points with a 3-2 come-from-behind home win, while their pursuers dropped points. Those results also allowed Atlanta to make up more ground in the playoff chase after it logged its third straight win. In the West, the story is a familiar one this season: The Seattle Sounders just keep finding ways to win (11-3-6, 39 points), while it’s the opposite story for Texas-based FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and Austin FC, which occupy three of the last four spots in the conference....

Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy have traveled to Chicago, where they will take on Schweinsteiger’s Fire in a sold-out showdown between two teams still trying to find their form. The match will be Ibrahimovic’s first on the road since joining the Galaxy and there is a good possibility he makes his first start in MLS. While Fire-Galaxy headlines Saturday’s slate, Atlanta United plays host to undefeated New York City FC on Sunday in a clash of Eastern Conference powers....

Mo’ne Davis and her teammates on the Anderson Monarchs barnstorming team stood alongside baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron at Turner Field. Davis became the first girl to pitch a no-hitter in the Little League World series and the first African-American girl ever to play in the annual competition, accomplishing the feats last summer as she wowed the crowd with her 70 mph fastball. Aaron finished his career atop MLB’s all-time home run list with 755....

Mo. Williams. MORE: Love doesn’t plan to opt out of Cavs deal | Lakers called Pistons about Monroe, Jennings He set the record with 52 points Tuesday night against the Pacers, who have typically been a stout defensive unit despite their record. Williams, an 11-year veteran, is in his first year in Minnesota and has been the Timberwolves’ point guard by default this season with Ricky Rubio injured. His points came on 19-of-33 shooting, to go with seven assists and four rebounds....

The BayBears are looking to raise $500 for Kaiser’s family. Click here to donate. MORE: Notable sports deaths of 2015 “The Mobile BayBears understand what it is like to go through rough times like what the Bee Jays are experiencing. The BayBears have their own long-time iconic bat boy, Wade Vadakin, who has been going through a battle with cancer,” the BayBears’ fundraising page said. One of the Bee Jays’ batters accidentally hit Carlile with a warmup swing as he was retrieving a bat during the team’s collegiate summer league game in Kansas over the weekend....

The Gunners hit a new low on Sunday as they were crushed 4-0 by Liverpool in a one-sided affair at Anfield. Criticism of Arsene Wenger has mounted on the back of a dismal display, with his position at the club where he agreed a two-year extension earlier in the summer once again being questioned. Former club captain Vieira, who is now in charge of MLS side New York City, has refused to be drawn into that debate and believes that Arsenal have enough quality at their disposal to play their way out of the slump....