In a special segment Tuesday night on MLB Network, “The Offseason: Hope in Chicago and Miami” chronicled Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s battle with cancer.

The Orioles acquired outfielder Travis Snider from the Pirates on Tuesday in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Stephen Tarpley and a player to be named.

Once a mega-prospect considered by many to be the future of the Royals, center fielder Bubba Starling hasn’t quite lived up to the massive expectations heaped on his shoulders. So the Royals are taking a bit of an unconventional approach in his development: They’re inviting him to Major League Spring Training.

John Smoltz, one of the new electees to the Baseball Hall of Fame, once spent time as a bellhop. Well, not exactly. But he pretended to be one once for about 30 minutes to pull off a joke on his teammates after they arrived at a hotel late one morning on a road trip.

The Marlins on Tuesday night announced the signing of free-agent outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to a one-year contract. Ichiro, who will wear No. 51, is the first Japanese-born player in franchise history.

The Orioles’ corner outfield question represents the biggest area in need of upgrade, especially on a team motivated to build on recent success. Here are other needs that remain as the earliest go-getters start to be spotted at camps in Florida and Arizona.

Statistically, Kyle Lohse is in the prime of his career, with four of his best seasons in terms of ERA+ and fielding independent pitching in the past five years. But he is also 36 years old, which explains why Lohse is asked more and more these days about his post-playing career plans.

As a frightening string of destructive tornadoes ripped through the Southeast on April 27, 2011, Mike Dunn took precautionary measures to protect his Class A Rome Braves players and the visiting Asheville Tourists club that included a young second baseman named Russell Wilson.

Talks between the Phillies, Blue Jays and Brewers regarding a Jonathan Papelbon trade continue, although the seriousness of those discussions is unclear.

The Rangers added another strong candidate to their rotation competition by acquiring rookie right-handed pitcher Anthony Ranaudo in exchange for Robbie Ross Jr.

Jeff Bagwell, who has been largely out of baseball since he decided not to remain as hitting coach of the Astros following the 2010 season, will return to the organization after accepting an offer from the team Tuesday to become a guest instructor at Spring Training.

If chicks dig the long ball, then there’s no doubt third base is the sexiest position among prospects. It’s home to the three best power prospects in the game in Kris Bryant (Cubs) and Joey Gallo (Rangers) — the last two Minor League home run champions — and Miguel Sano (Twins).

For the immediate future, Adam Eaton is more than satisfied to serve as the catalyst at the top of the White Sox batting order and anchor center field for what looks to be an up-and-coming team. But on Tuesday in Phoenix, the charismatic Eaton got thrown into the fire in a new profession as part of Super Bowl Media Day.

The Giants have avoided arbitration with shortstop Brandon Crawford by agreeing to a one-year, $3.175 million deal, a source told MLB.com’s Paul Hagen on Tuesday.

Tom Wilhelmsen proved his versatility — and personality — at last weekend’s FanFest with several impromptu singing and dancing performances atop the dugout at Safeco Field. But the looming question now figures to be where exactly he fits into Seattle’s pitching plans when the games begin this spring.

Dave Winfield knows what it means to be a great outfielder. The Hall of Famer was a 12-time All-Star who won seven Gold Glove Awards and six Silver Slugger Awards, so it’s no surprise that Winfield most enjoys watching Miami masher Giancarlo Stanton.

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