MLB

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.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez has shown glimpses of stellar play at times with his bat over the last two seasons as one of the Pirates' backups.  

At other times, he has looked completely lost.  

Such is not the case this spring, as Sanchez has been undoubtedly the Pirates' best player in camp, and if he makes the Opening Day roster, it would be perhaps the most soothing story for Pirates fans.

For the first time in seven seasons, Justin Verlander won't take the hill for the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day, as that honor has instead been given to David Price.  

MLB's official Twitter account reported the decision by Tigers manager Brad Ausmus: