When Arodys Vizcaino finished throwing his live batting practice session, one of the first people to shake his hand to congratulate him was Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein.

The Red Sox continue to say they can’t make any true evaluations of Grady Sizemore until they see how his body responds to the daily pounding that can only happen during a game schedule.

With shortstop Stephen Drew just one of the many veteran players who remain on the free-agent market, Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Players Association, realizes that the compensation issue is one that needs to be reviewed.

Joakim Soria is off to the quickest start of the three candidates for the closer’s role. While Neftali Feliz and Tanner Scheppers have been dealing with minor ailments, Soria has impressed early in Rangers camp with his throwing.

Yu Darvish, showing off an excellent changeup, threw 34 pitches of live batting practice on Saturday, and his next start will be in game conditions. Darvish is scheduled to pitch on Monday in the Rangers’ first intrasquad scrimmage and again on Thursday against the Royals at 2:05 p.m. CT in the first Cactus League game.

A’s manager Bob Melvin is extremely encouraged by Fernando Rodriguez’s recovery from Tommy John surgery. The right-handed reliever is nearly a year removed from the operation, and though he’s not expected to get into any spring contests, he’s already looking “like he could pitch in a game right now,” said Melvin.

This is the storyline the Mets want no one to follow, other than folks with degrees in medicine and those who draw paychecks from the Wilpon treasury. And goodness knows, those folks better keep their knowledge of it to themselves. It is the story of Matt Harvey and his recovering right elbow ligament.

Donald Lutz, the first German-developed Major League player, has impressed the Reds the past two springs in big league camp with his power and work ethic in learning to play the outfield.

Sam Fuld is just a pest, Bob Melvin says. That’s why the A’s made him theirs on a Minor League deal this month.

Looking to bolster their outfield depth and increase competition, the Giants signed Tyler Colvin to a Minor League contract Saturday. Colvin is expected in big league camp Sunday.

Mitch Moreland can relax. Nelson Cruz is not returning to the Rangers and taking his spot at designated hitter. Instead, Cruz has agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with the Orioles.

Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena is the newest member of the Dodgers. The 23-year old, who was declared a free agent by Major League Baseball earlier this week, was cleared by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to enter into a contract with a Major League club after he established residency in Haiti. The Dodgers announced the deal as official on Saturday.

To show their support for general manager Terry Ryan, who recently underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his neck, all 110 Twins players and staff members wore matching black Stand Up To Cancer T-shirts on Saturday for their first full-squad workout.

David Phelps has moved in and out of the Yankees’ rotation since making his Major League debut in 2012, and heading into this season, he once again faces the question of whether he’ll be taking the mound as a starter or reliever.

After three straight losing seasons, the Twins rebuilt their rotation in the offseason, and they have several elite prospects on the way in the farm system.

Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil looks a lot more relaxed in his surroundings this year, and it’s easy to understand why.

Third baseman Chase Headley suffered a strained right calf during infield drills Saturday and will likely miss at least two weeks.