The Reds really have no choice but to experiment with Billy Hamilton, regardless of the fact that he’s accumulated just 19 big league at-bats and is coming off an uninspiring offensive output at Triple-A. The leadoff spot is certainly a tall order for a guy who had a .308 on-base percentage in Louisville. If manager Bryan Price is not already planning on batting Joey Votto in the two-hole, he needs to.

As the Astros’ top prospect, Carlos Correa is ready to show what he can do in his first Spring Training after impressing the club in his first full year in Class A.

Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar went in different directions last season, but the Indians are counting on both to help them build on last season’s success, and they believe they are well positioned to do just that.

Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, David Carpenter, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez and bench coach Carlos Tosca were among the thousands of Atlanta-area residents who wish they learned they could go home earlier than planned during Tuesday’s winter storm.

The Urban Invitational, played in Houston the last two years, will be held between February 14th and 16th and will be shared between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Four venues — Southern University, Louisiana State University, Zephyr Field and the New Orleans UYA — will host games.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has a doctor’s appointment later this week, and it is expected that the 21-year-old will be cleared to begin baseball activities.

Native son Dan Haren has come home, to Southern California, to pitch for the Dodgers in the league he favors in part because it puts an advantage in his hands: the baseball bat.

A.J. Burnett has reportedly decided to pitch again in 2014, and the Phillies could be a fit for the veteran right-hander, who has some links with the club.

Licey became the Dominican champions with a win over Escogido on Tuesday, while Magallanes clinched the Venezuelan crown by topping Caribes. Navojoa forced a decisive Game 7 in Mexico by topping Hermosillo.

With two and a half weeks before pitchers and catchers officially report to Spring Training, there’s a reasonable chance the Mets are done handing out big league contracts. In a telephone interview Tuesday evening, general manager Sandy Alderson reiterated that his team is “unlikely” to sign Stephen Drew, despite the shortstop’s perceived lack of suitors on the free-agent market.

The Hot Stove’s waiting game continued on Tuesday, as very little news came from the remaining big names on the free-agent market.

Free-agent infielder Yuniesky Betancourt inked a one-year contract with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball on Tuesday, according to FOXSports.com.

Like batting helmets and ear flaps in years past, the protective headgear that will be available for Major League pitchers starting in Spring Training next month will be a source of curiosity, skepticism and an unknown level of acceptance among those now allowed to use it.

After drafting him as a reliever, the Tribe asked Cody Anderson to become a starter, a role he embraced to the point where he was honored with the 2013 Bob Feller Award, given to the farm system’s top pitcher.

A sampling of Giants, along with pitching coach Dave Righetti, sounded less than enthusiastic when asked to discuss the padded caps for pitchers approved Tuesday by Major League Baseball.

With the Orioles’ annual FanFest event on Saturday, all has remained quiet in the warehouse in terms of recent additions. Could that change this week? Let’s tackle some of your most frequently asked questions in the Inbox.

Every Brewers home game in the Cactus League will be televised in 2014, part of a full Spring Training broadcast schedule unveiled by the club on Tuesday.