While facing the possibility of a 50-game suspension, Ryan Braun always had the support of his Brewers teammates, who were ecstatic to see the slugger at camp Friday.

Kyle Weiland, acquired by the Astros on Dec. 14 along with Jed Lowrie in exchange for pitcher Mark Melancon, find himself among a group of promising young arms trying to crack the Astros' rotation.

Bunched up in a corner of the Angels' clubhouse – amid non-roster invitees, teenage ballplayers and the usual close quarters of the early part of Spring Training – sit four starting pitchers who could very well make up the best group in all of baseball.

Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro was eager to get the focus back to baseball and not the offseason allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in Chicago.

Alfonso Soriano will need to spend lots of time getting to know his new teammates on the Cubs, and he didn't appear to miss players like Aramis Ramirez or Carlos Zambrano.

Derek Jeter on Friday proclaimed that there's no reason to believe he can't play another full season at the level of excellence he has always demanded of himself.

Dealing with substance-abuse recovery along with impending free agency, Josh Hamilton turns his focus to the upcoming season.

James Shields is the No. 1 taskmaster among the Rays' starters, and he feels that's part of his job, especially since he's the oldest member of the staff.

Matt Kemp is glad Ryan Braun won his appeal for a positive drug test Thursday and won't serve a 50-game suspension.

The verdict is in for National League MVP Ryan Braun: Not guilty. The 2-1 ruling, from a three-member special panel that first convened last month in New York, spares Braun a suspension that might have covered as many as 50 games.

During the summer of 2011, 28-year-old right-hander Justin Verlander made his case for a definitive place among the more iconic pitching performances in the AL over the past 39 seasons.

Jose Reyes, the Marlins' top offseason acquisition, arrived at Spring Training on Thursday, three days before full-squad workouts are scheduled to begin. The 29-year-old shortstop is excited for a new beginning after spending his entire career with the Mets.

If the performance of reigning American League Cy Young Award winners over the past decade is any indicator for what's in store for Tigers ace Justin Verlander this season, then AL hitters can breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Look around Spring Training camps and you'll see plenty of players who are hoping to take advantage of a Minor League contract and either reclaim their place in the Majors or squeeze at least one more year out of their careers.

Neftali Feliz, Daniel Bard, Aroldis Chapman and Chris Sale are four of a kind this spring: power pitchers with size, looking to make the transition from short relief to the multiple demands of starting.

The Miami Marlins have a new look and stadium to go along with their overhauled roster. The combination of young stars and free agents make the Marlins a team to watch in the NL East.

Mat Gamel said he is 25-30 pounds lighter today than when he reported to camp last year, admittedly out of shape and blocked at all of his positions — at third base by Casey McGehee, the corner outfield spots by Ryan Braun and Corey Hart and at first base by Prince Fielder.