MLB

Spring training is inching closer and closer for the New York Mets. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Port St. Lucie on February 15 to begin their journey through the 2014 MLB season.

Jeff Baker, Marlon Byrd, LaTroy Hawkins and Scott Kazmir each took advantage of spring training invites in 2013, earning a spot on the Opening Day roster of their respective teams and following up with strong seasons.

The beginning of baseball season is full of hope for every MLB team, but many players simply don’t live up to expectations every year. When certain players struggle, it can derail a possible contender’s season.

Fans don't want to hear that one of the players on their favorite team is in store for a rough season. However, it’s inevitable that several hyped players end up disappointing.

There’s a proven closer in the NL East that can definitely be had, but teams could be more interested in trading for one of the division’s other relievers.

This guy’s name: Drew Storen.

If Mark Teixeira really hadn't watched Super Bowl XLVIII at the time of this tweet, he was in for a major letdown. 

There is always the chance that he was just trolling the Denver Broncos.

Of course, it didn't take long for someone to spoil the game for the New York Yankees first baseman. The first reply to his tweet told him who won the game.

Hopefully Teixeira gets some enjoyment out of the commercials because he won't be getting the close game that he expected.

Heading into the 2014 season, the San Francisco Giants will look to rebound from their disappointing 2013 campaign. Matt Cain, Pablo Sandoval and Tim Lincecum are three key players the Giants must see improvement from in 2014.

Last year, the Giants suffered from a World Series hangover and finished the season 76-86, third in the National League West.

With just three days remaining before Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training, the team made a huge statement by extending the contracts of manager Kirk Gibson and general manager Kevin Towers beyond the 2014 MLB season.    

The Diamondbacks' official Twitter account reported the news Monday, Feb. 3:

With the start of spring training just weeks away, Major League Baseball teams are looking for small pieces to upgrade the roster heading into the season. 

There are plenty of big names still available in the free-agent market, including Ubaldo Jimenez, Fernando Rodney, Nelson Cruz, Stephen Drew and many more. However, teams have shown an unwillingness to give out multi-year deals or big money for these types of players.

Position players for the Kansas City Royals have a spring training report date of February 19. The current build of the Royals roster might not be intact when it's time to report to Surprise, Arizona though. Slugger Billy Butler could be headed toward a new destination as Kansas City looks to beef up its pitching without overpaying in free agency.