D-backs News:

Diamondbacks sign Abraham Almonte to Minor League deal.

Almonte, 29, tallied 151 plate appearances with the Royals this past season but mustered just a .179/.260/.284 slash in that time. Almonte enjoyed a solid 2015 run with the Indians but has turned in a trio of underwhelming performances since that half season, hitting a combined .230/.292/.357 in 540 plate appearances between Cleveland and Kansas City. In all, the switch-hitter has a career .662 OPS but has drawn positive defensive marks at all three outfield spots — including +9 Defensive Runs Saved and a 5.0 Ultimate Zone Rating in 1283 innings of center field duty.

Yay, another mediocre 5th outfielder.

Mariners hire former Dback’s assistant hitting coach Tim Laker as hitting coach.

Two personal notes seem worth including on Laker. Firstly, Laker suffers from colitis, an exceedingly unpleasant chronic inflammatory bowel disease that has played a role since 1992 in limiting his workload at times throughout his playing and coaching career. Secondly, Laker was named as a player implicated in the infamous Mitchell Report, and later admitted to having used steroids as a player at age-25. He’s discussed his regret for the choice since becoming a coach.

Around Baseball:

Snell, deGrom rise to top as 1st-time Cy Young award winners.

Snell’s selection was a reflection of the evolving role of the starting pitcher and the diminished emphasis on innings pitched.

The BBWAA voters looked past deGrom’s 10-9 record and focused instead on a 1.70 ERA that was the best in baseball by .19 points and the best in the NL by .67.

Red Sox reward manager Alex Cora with contract extension.

Last season, Cora made $800,000, tied with the Braves’ Brian Snitker and the Mariners’ Scott Servais for the lowest salary among managers to start the season.

Snitker won Manager of the Year in the National League, and Cora finished second in voting for the American League award.

Off topic snake story.

Fake snake does not make it on the plane.

When it was their turn to be searched and screened, the fun slithered away, and they found themselves at the centre of a row over a fake snake that would not be allowed on a plane. The security official told them they had to throw it away.

BOOOOOOOOO THIS OFFICIAL!!!!!