Naturally, the Giants believe that their title in 2012, not their tumble in ’13, truly reflected their skills. They’re confident that they’ll return to the league’s elite if their key performers remain healthy.

It has been awhile since the Royals have entered Spring Training with such a high note of excitement. The flames were fanned late last season with a furious but failed bid for a Wild Card playoff berth, and the club is hopeful for its first postseason appearance in 29 years.

With a lot of options still within the reach of eager and astute front offices, many Major League teams can still unearth players on the free-agent market and elsewhere who will help them win this year and in the future.

Mexican club Naranjeros de Hermosillo defeated Puerto Rico’s Indios de Mayaguez, 7-1, to win the Caribbean Series title on Saturday night. Veteran outfielder Chris Roberson was named the tournament MVP.

A handful of players and clubs came to terms on one-year contracts Saturday, with the Dodgers adding an arm on the day their pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch in Arizona.

The A’s christened the unofficial start of the baseball season Saturday with an action-packed FanFest that featured appearances by the majority of the club’s roster. The same group that occupies this roster will likely remain unchanged by the time camp opens next week, Billy Beane suggested.

The Dodgers announced the signing of free-agent starting pitcher Paul Maholm to a one-year Major League contract Saturday, eight hours after he appeared in the Spring Training clubhouse.

A notable face wasn’t seen at A’s FanFest on Saturday. Right fielder Josh Reddick, originally scheduled to be in attendance at the annual event — which drew more than 20,000 fans this year — was missing from the buzzing scene after backing out for unknown reasons Friday.

In a major new initiative announced at their FanFest on Saturday at Chase Field, the D-backs are dressing local youth and Little League baseball players in the home colors of Sedona red, black, green, purple, white, you name it.

Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija has avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year $5.345 million deal on Saturday.

Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner would probably just as soon avoid another arbitration hearing in his lifetime, though he said his hearing on Thursday in Florida proved fascinating.

Josh Johnson didn’t necessarily need it, but he received some words of encouragement that really resonated with him recently during an offseason workout.

Hundreds of hungry fans braved the cold outside Fenway Park on Saturday morning to watch the Red Sox’s equipment truck depart for Fort Myers, Fla. in preparation for Spring Training.

Tropicana Field served as a baseball education center Saturday when the Rays hosted a coaching clinic for youth baseball. Derek Shelton and Jim Hickey were there as part of an initiative launched by the Rays with Little League Baseball that will support nearly 70 leagues from eight surrounding districts.

Yasmani Grandal — who suffered a season-ending right knee injury last July — was asked Saturday where he envisions himself on Opening Day, March 30, against the Dodgers. “Behind home plate,” he said, smiling. “There’s nowhere else I want to be.”

Zack Greinke, who a year ago signed a record contract with the Dodgers, said the deal teammate Clayton Kershaw signed with the club was solid for both sides.

When Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training on Saturday, manager Don Mattingly had some discouraging news about outfielder Matt Kemp