Professional

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper said he will report to spring training on Wednesday as he continues recovering from elbow surgery and then determine when he can return full time. Plus more news from around the league on Sunday.

Zach Eflin made a good first impression with the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander struck out three of the four Minnesota batters he faced in his first spring training start. Eflin signed a $40 million, three-year contract during the offseason. That is the most money the Rays have ever given to a free agent.

Juan Soto was very good after he came to the San Diego Padres in a midseason blockbuster deal. His excellent start in spring training this season is a reminder of how much of a game-changer he can be. The outfielder had six hits in his first eight spring at-bats, including three doubles, a homer, a stolen base and six RBIs.

Manny Machado continues to be a very rich man. He also is still a very good hitter. Machado ripped an RBI double on the same day he agreed to a new $350 million, 11-year contract that will keep him with the San Diego Padres through 2033, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

Baseball's new rules designed to improve pace of play are coming fast at everyone, particularly the players. The most dramatic moment of the new pitch clock era arrived on the first full day of spring games. Cal Conley of the Atlanta Braves thought he had won the game with a two-out, bases-loaded walk-off walk. He took a few steps toward first base with bat in hand when umpire John Libka indicated strike three. Conley wasn't set in the box as the clock wound under eight seconds. The penalty is an automatic strike.

Bryce Harper's arrival at spring training camp remains a couple of weeks away as the Philadelphia Phillies slugger recovers from offseason elbow surgery. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that Harper is taking dry swings with a bat at home in Las Vegas and will report somewhere around March 8 or 9. Harper had surgery on his right elbow in November after leading the Phillies to an NL pennant.

Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. says he will miss opening day for the World Series champions because of a strained muscle in his pitching arm. McCullers, sidelined for the first 4 1/2 months of last season while rehabbing from a right flexor pronator strain, noticed soreness after a bullpen session last week. McCullers missed the 2020 season following Tommy John surgery and went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 2021, then was injured in the postseason. McCullers made eight starts from Aug. 13 on last year and was 0-1 in three postseason outings.

Houston Astros All-Star Yordan Alvarez says he has a sore left hand that will keep him out of batting practice for a few days in spring training. Alvarez told reporters that soreness in the hand was an issue at times in the 2022 season and continued to "flare up a bit at times" during the offseason. Despite the soreness, Alvarez hit .306 with 37 homers and 97 RBIs and finished third in the AL MVP voting for the World Series champion Astros. Speaking through a translator, Alvarez said he told team officials about the sore hand when he reported to camp.

Of all of baseball's tweaks under Commissioner Rob Manfred, the pitch clock might be the one that affects the most players. Whether you're a pitcher, a catcher, a hitter or a baserunner, there's no hiding from this rule change. The goal is to speed up play by limiting the parts of the game fans find particularly tedious. The clocks will count down from 30 seconds between batters. Between pitches, it will be 15 seconds with nobody on and 20 if there's a baserunner. 

Miguel Cabrera sounds at ease with his decision to call it a career. The Detroit slugger joked with reporters in his usual playful way and insisted he doesn’t need opponents to lavish him with attention. Plus new from around Spring Training on Monday.

Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona is feeling much better these days. He has a rod in his left foot that bothers him when he wears his beloved flip-flops, but that's a breeze compared with what he experienced in the past.

Trea Turner has won a World Series in Washington and played for some great teams with the Dodgers. Now he's ready to settle down with the Philadelphia Phillies. He'll still have plenty of talented teammates. Turner signed an 11-year, $300 million contract that brought him back to the NL East.