For as long as Kurt Suzuki was around, the Oakland Athletics would come into spring training knowing what they had behind the plate.

The biggest game Joe Saunders ever pitched didn't come during last October's postseason or any of the other four he's been in.

PHOENIX-The title of highest-paid right-hander in baseball history was taken from Zack Greinke this week, but he had no problem with it.

Joe Mauer was all business, ready to confront a workload complicated by a WBC detour. Cole DeVries was reminding himself to be himself, to make the day enjoyable but not overwhelming. Infield instructor Joe Vavra was apprehensive about every little detail of teaching every little detail.

Spring training is under way as of Wednesday, with the first workout for Texas Rangers pitchers and catchers jump-starting the February-to-October baseball marathon.

Nolan Reimold made an amazing transition over the past several months, though he probably didn't even notice.

His hands trembled, his breath quickened and his eyes began to fill with tears. Felix Hernandez looked down at the piece of paper containing details of the largest contract ever placed in front of a pitcher and emotion took over.

SURPRISE, Ariz. - Salvy Perez and James Shields huddled up between the plate and the mound Wednesday afternoon after their latest collaboration at one of the cloverleaf diamonds on the edge of the Royals' complex.

In his first public move in a Baltimore Orioles uniform, infielder Danny Valencia stepped in front of a podium on Wednesday and vehemently denied ever using any performance-enhancing drugs.

Pablo Sandoval's three-homer performance in Game 1 of the World Series was one for the record books and surely will be replayed for years to come. Except by the postseason hero himself.

Shortstop Johnny Peralta arrived in camp and added some details about his off-season weight loss.

In November, the Atlanta Braves signed B.J. Upton to play centerfield for $75 million for five seasons. Michael Bourn, who patrolled centerfield here last year, signed with Cleveland on Monday for $48 million for four seasons. (There's a vesting option for a fifth year.) If we go by advanced analytics, Bourn was roughly twice the player Upton was in 2012, which means that if we go by dollars and cents, the Braves overpaid.