If Justin Verlander’s rehabilitation goes as planned, president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said, the right-hander’s status for the start of the season won’t be a question. Dombrowski isn’t willing to guarantee it yet because he doesn’t want to prompt Verlander to push himself to the risk of re-injury.

Three months after having arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, the Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg told the local media that he is 100 percent healthy and will not be in rehab mode when Spring Training starts next month.

As Robinson Cano was introduced to Mariners fans for the first time at Saturday’s FanFest at Safeco Field, the 30-year-old second baseman did so with the knowledge that he now carries extra pressure along with the $240 million contract he inked in December.

There are certain childhood dreams that can eventually become realistic goals. Plenty of kids dream about becoming ballplayers, and those who do then dream about sticking in the big leagues and maybe becoming a household name. Jim Thome never fathomed he would get a statue. The Indians will unveil one of their longtime slugger this summer at Progressive Field.

Pain was almost a constant for Bryce Harper last season. So when he was able to run and hit without pain, it ‘was a lot of fun,” Harper said during NatsFest.

Joe Mauer, holding court with reporters for 20 minutes on Saturday, admitted that it’s been a little strange hearing, ‘first baseman,’ before his name while at TwinsFest this weekend, but that he’s starting to get used to it now with Spring Training fast approaching.

Adam Dunn had 649 plate appearances for the White Sox in 2012 and 607 in 2013. Those numbers will almost certainly drop in 2014, as Dunn, Paul Konerko and Jose Abreu will all factor into the mix at first base and designated hitter — with Abreu the only one guaranteed near everyday playing time. But that drop in at-bats doesn’t bother Dunn.

The Rangers have their Opening Day starter. Manager Ron Washington said at FanFest on Saturday it will be Yu Darvish.

Manny Machado said that he is feeling good and ahead of schedule as his surgically repaired knee heals, and he plans to finish his rehab at the University of Miami in two weeks before traveling to Sarasota, Fla., for the start of Spring Training.

In an unbelievable turn of events Friday night, Hermosillo scored six runs in the eighth inning to come away with a victory over Navojoa and take a 2-1 Championship Series lead. Former big leaguer Daryle Ward was the biggest catalyst for the comeback, going 3-for-3 with a grand slam.

The Hot Stove saw a lot of action on Friday, most notably a multiyear contract extension for White Sox manager Robin Ventura. Though the club did not release the terms of the agreement, the extension comes with Ventura entering the final season of his original three-year deal.

Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay hosted the Jon Jay FMSbonds Celebrity Bowling Challenge Friday night in Miami Beach, Fla., an event that raised more than $50,000 during its first two years.

David Wright envisions a bright future for the Mets. With the offseason additions of center fielder Curtis Granderson and right-hander Bartolo Colon, coupled with a surge of young talent in the organization, Wright believes the Mets are in position to make the postseason this year for the first time since 2006.

Dodger Stadium’s history will be further enriched on Saturday when it hosts the NHL’s 2014 Coors Light Stadium Series game between the Southland rival Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks in the first regular-season West Coast outdoor game in league history.

Nate Jones appears to be the clubhouse leader to take over for Addison Reed at closer. But it’s right-handed setup man Matt Lindstrom, with his 45 career saves, who provided the best description for the pressure involved with ninth-inning work.

The target of this White Sox reshaping process stands as a highly competitive team for 2015 and beyond. That goal doesn’t mean 2014 is any sort of a forgotten year, as general manager Rick Hahn and manager Robin Ventura expressed at SoxFest on Friday.

Jose Abreu already has been depicted as a force with the bat, and he hasn’t played in a Spring Training game yet, let alone a regular-season contest. Talk of his American League Rookie of the Year Award potential before suiting up doesn’t seem to bother the free-agent addition, who joined the White Sox for six years, $68 million.