Brett, Koufax, Schmidt offering Hall of Fame help

SURPRISE, Ariz. | George Brett juggles three baseballs near the mound of a practice field, then loosens up his right arm and delivers a pitch to Mike Moustakas to start off batting practice.

Brett, Koufax, Schmidt offering Hall of Fame help

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, left, talks with pitcher Chris Capuano during spring training in Phoenix. It's been more than two decades since Koufax last wore a major league uniform, but his old team lured him back into blue this spring as a special adviser to owner …

Castillo triples as Cubs beat Dodgers

GLENDALE, Ariz. | Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly didn't like the manner in which his team carried itself in an 8-1 loss to the Cubs on Thursday.

Konerko hits 2 HRs, White Sox beat Cubs

MESA, Ariz. | One spot over in the clubhouse at HoHoKam Stadium means everything to Cubs catcher Welington Castillo.

Darvish strong start in Rangers' 14-8 loss to WSox

SURPRISE, Ariz. | Yu Darvish is more at ease in his second spring with the Texas Rangers, and he is still throwing hard.

Cubs' Garza to miss 1 week with side injury

MESA, Ariz. | Cubs pitcher Matt Garza has a mild side strain and is expected to miss only a week of spring training camp.

Cubs' Garza to miss 1 week with side injury

Cubs manager Dale Sveum, right, bumps fists with Matt Garza during spring training Thursday in Mesa, Ariz.

Florida spring training is laid-back fun in the sun

Major league baseball teams started coming to Florida for spring training almost a century ago, traveling by rail from the often still-frozen North to get in shape and play some exhibition games in the sun.

Looper looking to make Cubs' rotation

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. | Braden Looper's only brush with baseball last year came when he coached his son's Little League team.

Ricketts still searching for ways to improve Cubs

MESA, Ariz. | Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has been busy in the 16 months since his family took control of the legendary team that hasn't won the World Series since 1908.