Marlins upset Cabrera skipped caravan stops  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Less than a week before they take him to arbitration, the Marlins delivered an early salvo at their most productive player, All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera.  —  In front of hundreds of fans and season-ticket holders during the weekend …

MIT Sloan Sports Business Conference Recap  —  This weekend I attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan Sports Business Conference in Cambridge, Mass. This year's conference focused on the role of analytics in sports management, although, like many business school events …

Mauer catches a long-term deal  —  Four years, $33 million cements future with hometown team  —  There was one thing that catcher Joe Mauer couldn't wait to tell Twins general manager Terry Ryan when he talked to him on Sunday morning — that he couldn't be more excited to be behind the plate …

Age takes away Boss of old  —  Twilight time for George  —  The plan, at least, calls for us to see less of George Steinbrenner this spring training.  No more daily check-ins about the Yankees' latest Grapefruit League setback, or Joe Torre's future, or Alex Rodriguez's state of mind.

First, Gossage to enter San Diego Hall of Champions  —  Goose Gossage is going into a hall of fame Tuesday night.  —  Just not the Hall of Fame.  —  Gossage, former Chargers defensive end Gary "Big Hands" Johnson and former Padres President Emil "Buzzie" Bavasi will be inducted …

Harang gets $36.5 million, 4-year deal from Reds  —  CINCINNATI (AP) - Right-hander Aaron Harang avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $36.5 million, four-year contract Tuesday that made him the Cincinnati Reds' highest-paid pitcher.  —  Harang emerged as one of the NL's top starters …

Mets Have a Backup Plan for the Backup Plan  —  At least as much as the next man, I've taken it as a given that the Mets, having not signed or traded for the sort of durable starter they needed over the winter, will enter spring training facing a mounting catastrophe.

It's time for pitchers and catchers  —  Detroit pitchers will try to get those infield throws down, Dice-K will make the transition to American-style baseball and Barry Zito will start justifying the $126 million that's become attached to his name.  —  That's right: It's time for pitchers and catchers.

O's planted real spring optimism in offseason  —  It's hard to believe that the 2007 baseball season is almost upon us.  Seems like only a week or so ago, I was in Florida watching the Super Bowl, but that's probably just because time seems to pass faster as you get older.

Notes: Traber out to get back on track  —  Left-hander working on mechanics to win starting role  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals left-hander Billy Traber is one of 12 pitchers who are looking to join John Patterson in the starting rotation, and Traber knows he has a lot to prove to manager Manny Acta.

Covering new battleground  —  Hurdle assessing the jobs up for grabs  —  The Rockies begin reporting to spring training this week with a possible remake of half their Opening Day lineup from a year ago.  —  Kaz Matsui already has taken over at second base.

Gonzalez' big break: Marlins job means leaving buddies behind  —  MARIETTA, Ga. — Deep in the heart of Braves country, a tape-measure homer from Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, "The Bagel Boys" are plotting against one of their own.  —  They've loved Fredi Gonzalez …

Napoli eats up new diet  —  Catcher drops weight, adds muscle and hopes to avoid power drought in second half of last season.  —  Mike Napoli's second-half fade at the plate carried into the off-season, but the result wasn't a lengthy winter-ball slump.  The Angels catcher shed 15 pounds …