The role of closer is one of the few spots on the pitching staff that seems to be up for grabs this spring with Reed, Putz, Brad Ziegler and David Hernandez all possible candidates.

From baseball gear to front-office possessions, the Astros are preparing to move their operation to Kissimmee, Fla., for six weeks.

Matt Kemp made an early appearance in the Dodgers’ Major League clubhouse Monday before joining Yasiel Puig and other position player teammates in the batting cage, but that doesn’t mean his return is ahead of schedule.

Derek Jeter said on Monday that the Yankees “have no choice” but to move on without Alex Rodriguez this season after learning on Friday that A-Rod has accepted his season-long suspension.

The Angels signed veteran relief pitcher Brandon Lyon to a Minor League contract with a Spring Training invitation on Monday.

Rockies new closer LaTroy Hawkins praises work ethic of young pitchers at MLB International Elite Camp in Brazil, where he served as lead pitching instructor.

Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett threw his first bullpen session on Monday, tossing 30 pitches free and easy. At no time did Beckett stop to rub the feeling back into numb fingers, as he often did last Spring Training in a hint that something was wrong.

There won’t be any arbitration hearings for the Nationals in 2014. The club ensured that on Monday, agreeing to a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard, the last of its 10 arbitration-eligible players this offseason.

The A’s haven’t won a World Series in Billy Beane’s 16 seasons as their general manager, but they have been among the most successful franchises west of the Hudson, advancing to the postseason seven times, claiming a Wild Card and six American League West titles, including each of the past two.

The Rangers have agreed to terms with pitcher Tommy Hanson on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training, according to Major League sources. An official announcement is pending a physical, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

For the coming season, there is no question that Paul Goldschmidt sits atop the fantasy first-base mountain. The D-backs superstar can match virtually any player in the power department, and he also has the wheels to reach double digits in steals.

With the talent difference among the top 10, 15 or 20 teams paper thin, some players seem to be critical to a team’s hopes. Every club has a couple of guys it believes might mean the difference between making and missing the postseason. Here are 10 such players.

Most have probably never heard of weighted runs created plus (wRC+). And that’s totally understandable. But never have such evaluations been more important than in today’s climate, given the dollars at stake and the league-wide offensive decline taking place.

Spring Training is the annual sign that better days are within range. Baseball beats the first robin of spring every year. The days will eventually be warmer. And they will be days accompanied by baseball.

The surreal journey the Red Sox took to win the World Series last season would seem hard to top. Then again, simply by defending their title, the 2014 campaign could be even more special. Baseball hasn’t had a repeat champion since the Yankees won it all three times in a row from 1998-2000.

This week brings us the literal and figurative warmth that fans of the national pastime have been craving since Koji Uehara punched out Matt Carpenter on a chilly late-October night at Fenway Park.

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.