A team-by-team look at the National League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___St. Louis CardinalsManager: Mike Shildt (third season). 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS.Training Town: Jupiter, Florida.Park: Roger Dean Stadium.First Workout: Feb. 12/17. He's Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP Kwang-Hyun Kim.He's Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone.Going campin': The Cardinals return largely intact after getting swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under control, and that leaves Tyler O'Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Carlson competing for the last... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs did not offer a 2020 contract to shortstop Addison Russell on Monday, making the 2016 All-Star a free agent one year after he was suspended for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.Russell was banned for 40 games last offseason after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. The 25-year-old returned to the Cubs in May and batted a career-low .237 with nine homers, 23 RBIs and a .699 OPS.Russell earned $4 million in 2019 and was likely to gain a raise in arbitration, probably to around $5 million.“We decided to non-tender Addison Russell today simply because the role we expected him to play for the 2020 Cubs was inconsistent with how he would have been treated in the salary arbitration process,” Cubs executive Theo Epstein said in a statement.MLB began an investigation in 2017 after allegations against Russell first became public. Reidy published a blog post last September describing more detailed allegations, including years... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs did not offer a 2020 contract to shortstop Addison Russell on Monday, making the 2016 All-Star a free agent one year after he was suspended for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.Russell was banned for 40 games last offseason after a series of allegations made by ex-wife Melisa Reidy. The 25-year-old returned to the Cubs in May and batted a career-low .237 with nine homers, 23 RBIs and a .699 OPS.Russell earned $4 million in 2019 and was likely to gain a raise in arbitration, probably to around $5 million.“We decided to non-tender Addison Russell today simply because the role we expected him to play for the 2020 Cubs was inconsistent with how he would have been treated in the salary arbitration process,” Cubs executive Theo Epstein said in a statement.MLB began an investigation in 2017 after allegations against Russell first became public. Reidy published a blog post last September describing more detailed allegations, including years... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trea Turner's go-ahead grand slam lifted Washington to a 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies for a doubleheader sweep Tuesday that helped the Nationals clinch an NL wild card, capping quite a turnaround for a team that was 19-31 in late May.Turner had three hits in the day's first game, a 4-1 win for the Nationals. Washington assured itself of returning to the playoffs for the fifth time in eight years after sitting out October in 2018.Anthony Rendon delivered two sacrifice flies to raise his majors-leading RBIs total to 124 in the opening victory, a result that also eliminated Philadelphia and $330 million outfielder Bryce Harper, the ex-Nationals star, from postseason contention.In the nightcap, Washington trailed 4-2 entering the sixth, because Brad Miller managed to hit two homers off Max Scherzer (11-7).Washington loaded the bases in the sixth against Aaron Nola (12-7) with two walks and a single, setting the stage for Turner's 18th homer of the season and... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trea Turner's go-ahead grand slam lifted Washington to a 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies for a doubleheader sweep Tuesday that helped the Nationals clinch an NL wild card, capping quite a turnaround for a team that was 19-31 in late May.Turner had three hits in the day's first game, a 4-1 win for the Nationals. Washington assured itself of returning to the playoffs for the fifth time in eight years after sitting out October in 2018.Anthony Rendon delivered two sacrifice flies to raise his majors-leading RBIs total to 124 in the opening victory, a result that also eliminated Philadelphia and $330 million outfielder Bryce Harper, the ex-Nationals star, from postseason contention.In the nightcap, Washington trailed 4-2 entering the sixth, because Brad Miller managed to hit two homers off Max Scherzer (11-7).Washington loaded the bases in the sixth against Aaron Nola (12-7) with two walks and a single, setting the stage for Turner's 18th homer of the season and... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trea Turner's go-ahead grand slam lifted Washington to a 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies for a doubleheader sweep Tuesday that helped the Nationals clinch an NL wild card, capping quite a turnaround for a team that was 19-31 in late May.Turner had three hits in the day's first game, a 4-1 win for the Nationals. Washington assured itself of returning to the playoffs for the fifth time in eight years after sitting out October in 2018.Anthony Rendon delivered two sacrifice flies to raise his majors-leading RBIs total to 124 in the opening victory, a result that also eliminated Philadelphia and $330 million outfielder Bryce Harper, the ex-Nationals star, from postseason contention.In the nightcap, Washington trailed 4-2 entering the sixth, because Brad Miller managed to hit two homers off Max Scherzer (11-7).Washington loaded the bases in the sixth against Aaron Nola (12-7) with two walks and a single, setting the stage for Turner's 18th homer of the season and... [More]

Hultzen (shoulder) has been shut down until spring training, the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish reports.

The Mariners had originally hoped Hultzen would be able to pitch in the Arizona Fall League or in winter ball, but now spring training will be his next time on a mound. He will be out of options, so Hultzen will need to make the Mariners out of camp next season in order to remain in the organization. At this point, however, there is no reason for fantasy owners to be optimistic that Hultzen's shoulder will ever stay healthy for an extended stretch of time.

Hultzen (shoulder) has been shut down and likely won't pitch again during the regular season, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

Persistent shoulder fatigue has likely ended Hultzen's season, making this another lost year for the former first round pick. The Seattle Times noted that the Mariners erred on the side of caution with Hultzen, opting to shut down Hultzen rather than risking further aggravation of the issue. The team hopes that Hultzen will be able to throw in fall league.

Hultzen (shoulder) threw one simulated inning in Arizona on Wednesday, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Hultzen threw 19 pitches and is now slated to move onto facing live hitters in an Arizona League rehab appearance Monday. The outing will be Hultzen's first since he was shut down in mid-May due to shoulder fatigue. The 25-year-old, who missed all of last season after undergoing surgery, is expected to be placed at Double-A Jackson once healthy.

Hultzen (shoulder) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Hultzen continues to work back from shoulder fatigue at Double-A Jackson. The team will likely take extra caution considering he missed all of 2014 after undergoing shoulder sugery.

Hultzen is dealing with some shoulder fatigue and has been placed on the 7-day DL at Double-A Jackson, CBS Sports' Michael Hurcomb reports.

After the three starts the Mariners decided to shut Hultzen down for two weeks, but it was officially two weeks on Jun. 1. Until there is word that Hultzen will be back in the Jackson rotation, he should be considered out indefinitely. After missing all of 2014 after major shoulder surgery, the fact that he needed to be shut down after just eight innings this season is a bit concerning.

Hultzen (shoulder) will make his first start of the year for Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, the Seattle Times' Ryan Divish reports.

The Mariners have previously said that the plan is to try to use 2015 to get Hultzen re-acclimated to pitching at the upper levels of the minors. Seattle hopes to have Hultzen as a rotation option in 2016. Of course, plans can change, so it's worth following Hultzen's progress given the injury to Hisashi Iwakuma.

Hultzen (shoulder) will stay at extended spring training to build up arm strength before joining Triple-A Tacoma, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

Hultzen will likely spend a good chunk of the season with Triple-A Tacoma, as he hasn't pitched in a regular-season game at any level since 2013. The Mariners still have hope that the 25-year-old lefty can be a starter in the majors, but it's hard to know what to expect, and expectations should be modest for 2015.

Hultzen (shoulder) was among 10 players moved to minor league camp by the Mariners on Sunday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN in Seattle reports.

Hultzen is believed to be future major league starter, but he's still recovering from shoulder surgery, and the club is taking his rehabilitation slowly. Manager Lloyd McClendon said the Mariners will closely monitor his innings and ensure that he begins the season in a warm weather city.

Hultzen (shoulder) will make a relief appearance in Wednesday's Cactus League game, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

This will be his first game action since his shoulder surgery in 2013, so it is a momentous occasion for Hultzen and the Mariners. While 2015 will be a year for Hultzen to get back in the swing of things, the plan is not to deploy him in the big league rotation until 2016.

Hultzen (shoulder) is scheduled to throw his second live batting practice session of the spring Saturday, Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Hultzen faced live hitters Tuesday for the first time since his late-September instructional league appearance, and will get right back at it Saturday. The lefty appears relatively close to returning to game action, but the M's have already said that Hultzen will likely spend most, if not all, of the season in the minors, so they may opt to send him to minor league camp soon rather than throw him into Cactus League action.

Hultzen (shoulder) threw 28 pitches in his first live BP session of the spring, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Hultzen, who was shut down at the end of last season to preserve his surgically repaired shoulder, said he emerged from the session feeling great. However, given the fact that manager Lloyd McClendon said the team is "probably building for 2016" with Hultzen, he projects to spend significant time in the minors this season.

The Mariners are impressed with how Hultzen looks so far in camp, but are "probably building for 2016, more than anything, with him," according to manager Lloyd McClendon, the Tacoma News Tribune's Bob Dutton reports.

This is a pretty good sign that Hultzen will spend most, if not all of 2015 pitching in the minor leagues as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. There is the potential for him get in the mix for a spot in the rotation next season.

Hultzen (shoulder) will throw his first bullpen session of the spring Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Now close to 17 months removed from shoulder surgery, Hultzen enters spring training with full medical clearance. The lefty threw five bullpen sessions prior to the start of camp and said Saturday that he feels like he has "a completely new arm." He certainly appears headed in the right direction, but the Mariners don't have any expectation of Hultzen being part of their big-league plans anytime soon given the long layoff.

Hultzen (shoulder) will be shut back down, with the team looking to prepare him for spring training, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

There was talk of the M's sending Hultzen to the Arizona Fall League to strengthen his surgically-repaired shoulder, but apparently the team has decided to play it safe and will instead shut the lefty down from pitching this winter. Hultzen tossed 25 pitches in an instructional league game Tuesday, marking his first game action in undergoing surgery last October.