Tony La Russa believes that nothing gets a team ready for the regular season better than a competitive Spring Training, which explains why the D-backs’ chief baseball officer is feeling good about the way the first 10 days of spring games have gone.

A’s teammates spoke quietly and thoughtfully as starter Jarrod Parker was likely out for the season again after another valiant attempt to come back from elbow problems that have plagued him for the last two years-plus.

It’s the eye of the tiger. It’s the thrill of the fight.

Rays players, coaches, front-office personnel and fans happily agreed to have their heads shaved Saturday at Charlotte Sports Park as part of the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s annual “Cut for a Cure” campaign.

On a quiet back field at the Roger Dean Stadium complex on Saturday morning, Jose Fernandez was making a lot of noise. The Marlins’ ace was popping catcher J.T. Realmuto’s glove with 94-98 mph fastballs.

Jerry Dipoto can handle a challenge. And he definitely has one ahead of him in Seattle, after being hired as general manager of the Mariners last September.

It may come as no surprise, but Joey Votto will remain “the cornerstone” of the Reds’ franchise for the foreseeable future, Cincinnati’s new general manager, Dick Williams, said on Friday morning during a panel discussion at the annual SABR Analytics Conference in the downtown Hyatt Regency.

Every day this spring — his 53rd straight as a player, manager or coach or manager in a camp — Rene Lachemann, serving as the Rockies’ catching and defensive positioning coach, rolls out of bed before the morning is ready to show its face.

Just make sure you’ve got Snapchat handy.

Kyle Schwarber, who had to leave Thursday’s game with soreness in his left knee, said he hoped to be back in the Cubs’ lineup on Saturday. But manager Joe Maddon said they will give him at least one more day.

Haven’t you always wondered what Manny Machado would look like with Jonathan Schoop’s face?

The managers, rosters and game schedules for the Mexicali and Panama City World Baseball Classic qualifying round, to be played March 17-20, at Estadio B-Air and Rod Carew National Stadium, respectively, were announced on Friday.

Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced today that Derek Jeter and Cuban-born baseball dignitaries Luis Tiant and Jose Cardenal will be special guests of Major League Baseball during the Tampa Bay Rays’ historic trip to Havana, where the Club will play an exhibition game against the Cuban National Team at Estadio Latinoamericano on Tuesday, March 22.

Asdrubal Cabrera’s status for Opening Day is in jeopardy after an MRI revealed a strained patella tendon in his left knee. Cabrera will be inactive for approximately two weeks, the Mets announced on Friday, after which time he will return to baseball activity as tolerable.

Prince Fielder is dealing with sleep apnea, and he was given a mask to wear at night when he goes to bed. Fielder, who underwent a sleep study in Dallas, said he had a good night’s sleep on Thursday, and he could tell it has made a big difference.

With fantasy-baseball-draft season in full-swing, MLB.com put together a cheat sheet for fans in need of expert advice. Make sure to have the one-stop information shop on hand during your auctions or snake drafts.

The Astros made their first roster cuts of the spring on Friday, reassigning infielders Alex Bregman and J.D. Davis and outfielders Derek Fisher and Jon Kemmer to Minor League camp. The team has 58 players in camp.