Fan News

Earlier this week, we looked at poor souls who were victimized by bad luck during the 2014 Major League Baseball season and who are therefore due for good luck in 2015.

'Twas a happy discussion, as forecasting good luck is cheerful work. Certainly much more cheerful than forecasting bad luck, anyway.

The MLB clubs that consistently make October runs don't just have stars on the diamond and master button-pressers in the dugout, they also have savvy general managers calling the shots in the front office.

From Brian Cashman in the Bronx to Billy Beane and Brian Sabean on opposite sides of the Bay, there are all sorts of top-flight execs around the league.

After going two decades without making the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Pirates have cracked the postseason in each of the past two seasons. Maybe it's not completely accurate to call them a team "on the rise," but they have the pieces to become a perennial powerhouse in the National League for years to come.

There is an overwhelming hope that the 2015 Chicago Cubs will be a competitive group. That hope comes from the fact the team made several savvy offseason moves and its prospects are finally ready to make an impact at the big league level.

In just over two weeks, the season will open at Wrigley Field and the Cubs will take on the rival St Louis Cardinals. You better believe the atmosphere is going to be the most electric it's been in Wrigleyville in several years.

The Texas Rangers could have chosen to wave a white flag when they found out Yu Darvish had been lost for the 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery, but they're not.

Instead, they may have it in mind to acquire a suitable replacement: Cole Hamels.

A new contract for Adam Eaton and a much-anticipated bullpen session by Chris Sale added up to a spring day that should leave Chicago White Sox fans smiling.

First, let's talk Eaton, who inked a five-year extension, per MLB.com's Scott Merkin:

Bob Nightengale of USA Today provides details on the option years:

Domonic Brown gave the Philadelphia Phillies a scare after leaving Thursday's spring game with a left Achilles injury, though it's not as bad as it could have been. 

Continue for updates.

MLB.com: Brown Has Achilles Tendinitis

Friday, Mar. 20

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, Brown underwent an MRI that revealed there was no tear in his left Achilles:

While many in the United States were stressing about their NCAA tournament brackets Friday, Los Angeles Dodgers fans received a bit of a scare when ace Clayton Kershaw took a broken-bat line drive to the face.

In the bottom of the third inning of Friday's spring training game against the Oakland Athletics, a line drive off the bat of Oakland's Andy Parrino struck Kershaw in the side of the face.

The work of Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn hasn't slowed down even in spring training, as the team worked out a long-term contract extension with center fielder Adam Eaton on Friday.   

According to the White Sox's official Twitter, Eaton's new deal is for five years with two option years that could run through the 2021 season:

When Joe Maddon signed to be the Chicago Cubs manager and Jon Lester was signed this offseason to be the team's ace, the pair were seen as the saviors of a franchise desperate to end its famous World Series drought. However, Lester will miss his next spring start with an arm issue.

Continue for updates.