MLB

Fact: Spring training has gotten off to a hectic start in 2016.

A three-team trade nearly came to fruition; a former All-Star was disciplined under MLB's domestic-violence policy; and Dexter Fowler, Yovani Gallardo and Juan Uribe all found new homes in the American League.

With a slew of notable players still available as free agents, including Ian Desmond, Austin Jackson and Tim Lincecum, and multiple teams still looking to fill offseason holes, chances are things won't slow down anytime soon.

Donald Trump hasn't been afraid to ruffle some feathers during his quest for the Republican presidential candidate nomination, but Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts fired back Wednesday.

In a tweet sent out Monday, the former star of The Apprentice took issue with the notion that Ricketts and his family have spent against his bid for the White House:

Even out of context, the numbers were fine. Matt Harvey finished 2015 with the sixth-lowest ERA in the National League (2.71), with a strikeout an inning. He had 10 starts where he didn't allow an earned run, and three others where he allowed only one.

It's admittedly a tad early to talk about Major League Baseball's 2016 awards season, but you know what they say: A day in spring training without predictions is like a day without sunshine!

Or, in other words: eh, might as well.

We'll be putting our focus on the four major awards in the American and National League. In case you're new to baseball or have just arrived from an alien planet—either way, here's bidding you welcome—those would be the Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and Most Valuable Player.

The 2015 MLB season gave us one of the deepest and most productive rookie classes in recent memory, as a number of first-year players became major contributors on the fantasy baseball landscape.

Did the Baltimore Orioles improve, for the moment, by adding outfielder Dexter Fowler and right-hander Yovani Gallardo?

Yes.

Did they improve enough to become a legitimate contender and to justify the draft picks they surrendered?

Not necessarily.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips will return for an 11th season with the team despite the fact he was almost traded twice this offseason.

In a league where overpaying for talented players is commonplace, the Chicago White Sox broke that trend when they acquired All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier from the Cincinnati Reds back on Dec. 16.

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are involved in one of the best rivalries in all of sports, so it's not often that either fanbase would ever show the opposition any love.

However, when an iconic player decides to hang up his cleats, it is acceptable for fans to give a rival a standing ovation. And that's exactly what Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz is hoping will happen in the Bronx this season.

Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels has filed a lawsuit against Cornucopia Events after he and his wife were unable to get into the 2015 Victoria's Secret fashion show.