Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

The Rangers and Rougned Odor  have agreed to a six-year contract worth just under $50-million. Texas locks in one of its young stars with a franchise-friendly deal that buy out his three arbitration years and first two of potential free agency. The power hitting 2nd baseman smacked 33 homers last season. But despite hitting .271, his on-base percentage was under .300. Plus, he strikes out a lot, with a career-worst 133 whiffs as his power output rose in '16. So, he's not quite on par with fellow Venezuelan Jose Altuve, who plays for the cross-state rival Astros. On the other hand, even with three full major league seasons behind him, Odor is just 23. These images of Rougned Odor are from a Rangers/Yankees game last June.

The Padres were still playing in their original home, when Dennis and I visited San Diego in 1991. He held onto the program, which featured 2nd basebman Bip Roberts on its cover.

Named the 2017 winner of the James P. Dawson Award, as the Yankees top prospect during camp, Gleyber Torres (#81 in front of the batting cage) will start the regular season with Double A Trenton. Sure, he wowed us on TV -- as well as those like me, lucky enough to see him in person down in Florida -- but patience is in order here. He has never played above the Single A level -- and as some writers noted, he has never played a game in cold weather! So, even with Didi Gregorius out with a shoulder injury, a little more seasoning won't hurt. And Trenton will be delighted to have him as a drawing card at the beginning of the minor league season, with iffy weather and kids still in school during the week. While he's no Tim Tebow, Torres is certainly going to help boost the Thunder's attendance.

John Niese's hopes for a New York encore ended, at least temporarily, on Sunday when the Yankees released him. The former Mets pitcher spent the first part of 2016 with the Pirates, who then swapped him back to the boys from Flushing. When no team snapped him up during free agency, he landed a minor league deal with the Yankees, along with the invititation to major league camp. Hoping to land a bullpen job, he posted a 4.50 ERA this month. Worse, the club felt his arm strength wasn't up to par. Niese has an invitation to join the Yankees extended spring training program with the hope he can impress. But it's far from what the nine-year veteran was aiming for.

...you share it with baseball's best catcher, Buster Posey . The heart and soul of three Giants championship teams this decade, he's been an MVP and Rookie of the Year over his eight big league seasons. And he's kept his lifetime batting average over .300. Odds are strong you'll see his name on a Hall of Fame plaque one day. There's already a plaque in Cooperstown -- and another in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park -- for Miller Huggins . The manager of the first Yankee dynasty shepherded the team lead by Ruth, Gehrig, Earle Combs and Tony Lazzeri, all of them Hall of Famers. OK, Huggins had the horses. But almost 90 years after his death, he is still widely credited as the only manager to earn Babe Ruth's unquestioned respect. Miller Huggins, who also played for the Reds and Cardinals, was born March 27th, 1878. Also on our March 27th birthday parade: Matt Harvey , who again is battling back after season-ending surgery. Last year's ineffective 4

It's no secret that dugouts have gotten longer over the years. Whether it's major league stadiums or spring training parks, teams wanted more comfortable gametime accomodations -- while giving more fans the chance to sit behind the dugout. I wonder if the trend might have gone too far, judging by the jumbo dugouts at Orlando's Champion Stadium.

Veteran lefty Sean Burnett is trying to beat some tall odds. Having undergone Tommy John Surgery twice, the former Pirates, Nationals and Angels reliever has been trying to make the Phillies staff. He's done well so far -- allowing just two earned runs over nine innings. If healthy, he could help the club short term and become a possible July trade chip. But Burnett isn't set just yet. Sunday is his "opt out" date, meaning that if he's not officially added to Phils roster, he can declare himself a free agent. We'll see what the team and Burnett decide.

Every major league team that sent players to the World Baseball Classic worried about the risk of injury. While pitchers always seem most vulnerable, staying healthy is a bit of a gamble no matter what position. The Yankees learned that the hard way as shortstop Didi Gregorius, coming off his best big league season, left the Dutch team in WBC with a shoulder injury that will sideline him until at least May. Manning the position Derek Jeter held for close to 20 years, Didi ramped up his game in 2016, belting 20 home runs while being dependable in the field. Now, the Yanks have to consider four or more weeks with second baseman Starlin Castro sliding back to his old position, or a pressing a backup such as Ronald Torreyes or Ruben Tejada into everyday duty.  Manager Joe Girardi has already ruled out top prospect Gleyber Torres for the job -- he'll start the season at Double-A Trenton. No matter who gets the call, the Yankees will be down one of the players they could leas

Dallas Green, who ranks with Mike Schmidt, Richie Ashburn and Steve Carlton as towering figures in Phillies history, died Wednesday at 82. When the story broke, I quickly scrambled to find the one photo I recalled taking of him. Standing at attention in a club box while serving as a "senior advisror," he's all business while eyeing the action at Citizens Bank Park. That's how Phillies fans will remember him: the no-nonsense guy whose strong disclipine helped turn a previously underachieving Phillies club into the franchise's first ever Worlds Champs in 1980. It was a club he not only managed, but helped to build. The journeyman pitcher who spent most of his career as a Phillie became the club's farm system director under GM Paul Owens in the early 1970s. During those years, players such as Schmidt, Greg Luzinski, Larry Bowa, Bob Boone and Larry Christensen were drafted and developed. Joined by Steve Carlton and other trade aquisitions such as Tug McG

Like a lot of New Yorkers living in "the sixth borough," my friend Amy Z was excited to have the Yankees visit the east coast of Florida during Spring Training. Monday, they met the Nationals at their brand-spanking-new pre-season home, the Ballpark of The Palm Beaches. (The Nats share the park and campus with the Astros.) She picked a perfect day -- look at that sky; can it be any bluer? Then, those signature palm trees. You won't find those in the Bronx. All the signature touches you'd expect in a Grapefruit League park, including outfield seating on the grass, instead of bleachers. For more than 30 years, the Bronx Bombers made Fort Lauderdale their second home. To many, they helped put the town on the map. Have you ever seen the movie Safe at Home , which co-starred Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris with Hollywood's #1 Yankee fan William Frawley fulfulling his lifelong dream by playing a Yankee coach -- and was partly shot on location at Fort Lauderdale S

...you share it with Manny Sanguillen , the hard-hitting Pirates catcher of the 1970s. A teammate and close friend of Roberto Clemente, Sanguillen honors his pal wearing a number-21 cap when greeting fans at his barbeque eatery along the rightfield riverfront concourse at PNC Park. Much like other local icons Boog Powell in Baltimore and Greg Luzinski in Philadelphia, Manny chats with fans and happily poses for photos who drop by. And like Boog and the Bull, he's also been on a World Series winner -- in his case, two of them, 1971 and '79, hitting .379 and .333 respectively in the fall classic. Are you a believer in statistical coincidence? Clemente had exactly regular season 3000 hits in Hall of Fame career, which ended with his plane crash death on December 31st, 1972. Manny, his close friend and protege, finished his career with a total of 1500 hits. A nice round number -- and exactly half that of the teammate he so admired.

This spring, so much attention is being paid at Yankee camp to prospects such as Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres and James Kaprelian. But there's another Young Yankee worth being introduced to. 3rd baseman Miguel Andujar had a strong 2016, batting .273 with 83 RBI, split between Tampa and Trenton. The Dominican native has abundant talent, but needs to improve his fielding consistency -- he made too many errors during his Spring Training. After being optioned on Friday, he's ticketed for Trenton to start the regular season, where he'll play alongside Torres. Being just 22, he's got plenty of time to smooth over the rough points in his game -- incumbent 3rd basemen Chase Headley's contract runs through 2018. So there's no need to rush him to the Bronx. And the Yanks seem more interested than ever in letting their prosects mature so that when they arrive in the majors, they can stick.

It's March 2013, the Mets are warming up for their Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. Justin Turner and Ike Davis are having a catch under that beautiful Florida sun. Proof that nothing stays the same for long, Turner and Davis are both former Mets. And the ballpark, long known as Tradition Field, has a new sponsor. As of 2017, it's become First Data Field.

There's something moody, almost haunting about this image of Orioles manager Buck Showalter. Taken during a 2015 game against the Mets at Citi Field, it almost appears Hitchcockian. What's he's plotting? Is there an edge over his opponent he's about to grab? Of course, he's wearing his team jacket. I can't recall ever seeing him without one -- even in the heat of July. OK, everyone has their quirks. But look at his strength, his ability to get the most out of a modest roster. Whether you think of him with the 1995 wild card Yankees, or the Diamondbacks, Rangers, or since 2010, the Orioles, this onetime Yankee farmhand is someone you usually associate with a winning team.

...then you share it with Orioles slugger Chris Davis. The two-time AL home run champ enjoyed his biggest season in 2013, with a league leading 53 home runs and 138 RBI. Sure, he strikes out too much -- surpassing 200 in each of the last two seasons. But his power potential in a home run-friendly park makes him a frightening sight for pitchers anytime. Who else gets cake and candles -- or is corned beef and cabbage -- today? Jean Segura , who enjoyed his best season yet as a 2016 Diamondback (with 20 homers and a .319 average). It might be a bit harder to match those numbers this year, when he calls Seattle's Safeco Park home. Danny Ainge didn't quite become Bo Jackson as a two-sport player. His numbers put him closer to Dave DeBusschere, the NBA legend who pitched a few seasons for the White Sox. The onetime Blue Jays third baseman is now the Boston Celtics GM. Cito Gaston played 11 years in the majors, mostly with the Braves and Padres. But he made his mark in To

Remember MLB's early 1990s tee shirts incorporating Warner Brothers cartoon characters? Here's one I bought and held onto featuring Bugs Bunny. The shirt made me think about the classic Looney Tune "Baseball Bugs," where our carrot-loving hero singlehandedly outwits the "Gas House Gorillas." That 'toon was directed by the legendary Friz Freleng, who was (you probably saw this one coming) born in Kansas City. So the shirt and Bugs really do come full circle!

The rebuilding Phillies have some of baseball's best young prospects. Shortstop JP Crawford, outfielder Mickey Moniak, slugger Dylan Cozens and catcher Jorge Alfaro are expected to be core players as the club looks to regain contender status in the next few years. Brock Stassi   isn't normally grouped in with them. After a breakout 2015 season at AA Reading, his progress stalled while playing at Lehigh Valley last summer. Now 27 and not yet on the 40-man roster, he's one of those extra players -- with high numbers on their uniform -- you often see in early spring training games. But, as of Tuesday afternoon, guess who's tied for the Grapefruit League lead in home runs, along with Washington standout Bryce Harper? Brock Stassi. Five homers, including ones in Monday and Tuesday's games, have begun to raise his profile. And his 15 RBI are the most of anyone now playing in Florida. Might he be working his way into GM Matt Klentak's plans? OK, don't jump t

Matt Stairs made his mark in Philadelphia with his clutch pinch hits with the World Champion 2008 Phils. The standout moment was his pinch homer off Jonathan Broxton in game four of that year's NLCS. Yet Philadelphia was just a small part of his 20 year career in the majors, where he set the record as the most traveled position player of all time -- playing for 12 franchises in 13 cities (he was both an Expo and a National). A few years back, Huffington Post named him one of the greatest Canadian players ever. Stairs renewed his Phillies links the past three years as one of the voices on their TV broadcast team. And this season, he's back in uniform as the club's hitting coach. I caught this image of him sitting just outside the dugout last Wednesday against the Braves.

It's no surprise that athletes stretch to prepare their bodies for a game. After the Mets wrapped up batting practice before Friday's game, several of them got together in the left field area of Champion Stadium. Some were socializing, some were more series. The most specific and certainly the most dedicated was shortstop prospect Amed Rosario. He spent much of this time off by himself, and performing a couple of routines no one else did. Below, he worked with a thick electic band attached to his wrists. He followed that with several minutes of stretching his arms and legs, including moving each arm in a slow, fanning motion. Just 21 and coming off a strong year split between (single A) St. Lucie and (AA) Binghamton, Rosario is considered the Mets future shortstop. Maybe his dilgent pre-game prep has something to do with it?

My baseball home this past week was Champion Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. Since I focused on players and some game action the last few days, I wanted this Sunday post to focus on the beauty and unique architecture of the ballpark. Fans can avoid the grandstand entirely and sit on the grassy berm along the left field line and past the outfield fences. The next few showcase the eyecatching design. Once known as Cracker Jack Field, it's one of the few multi-level stadiums in Florida. The Braves have made it their Grapefruit League home since 1997. But next year might be their final one here. Numerous reports have Atlanta cutting a deal for a new state of the art spring training complex on the other side of Florida, in Sarasota. So for now, enjoy this little gem, with good sightlines, a Disney-trained service staff that aims to please, and several distinctive features that have made it a must-see for me. Finally, proving on-field ente

Friday brought encouraging news for the Mets, even though they lost both their split-squad games. Righthander Zack Wheeler, who last appeared in a major league game in 2014, worked a pair of innings. The stats -- including a home run to Atlanta's Matt Tuiasosopo -- didn't matter as much as Wheeler's health. And on that account, he came through just fine. Wheeler can start putting the doubts to rest by saying that his arm is pain-free. That's the concern by the Mets fans and front office: can this one-time top prospect stay healthy enough to help the club push past Washington in the NL East?

Here's a gallery of images from Thursday's game in Orlando. What's so different about 2017 is the depth of young talent, the players collected and groomed by Brian Cashman and the organization -- and how the "plan" has been embraced by fans who see them as legitimate building blocks, not just unproven kids. Nothing is ever guaranteed. But whether you point to the Cubs as role models -- doesn't that still seem a curious expression? -- or the Astros, today's baseball leans more on building from within and doing it with youth and atleticism. (Above), Yankee outfield prospects Billy McKinney and Dustin Fowler chat by the batting cage. (Below) capturing my first bat flip of the spring -- Aaron Judge, after walking in the top of the 1st inning. (Below) Proving the Yanks don't have a monopoly on impressive prospects, here's Atlanta's sweet-swinging infielder Ozzie Albies. Aaron Judge swung, missed and launched his bat into the stands above