Rangers like Young at No. 3  —  Switching batting order could amount to more run production  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - Here's one way to heal a circumspect offense: insert the league's best clutch hitter into a prime run-producing spot.

Ace's breaking pitch appears to be outside  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Another bizarro day at the Red Sox spring training site.  —  At 7:30 a.m., Curt Schilling went on his user-friendly radio program to announce that contract extension talks had broken off and he'll be a free agent after the season.

Slugger vows defense won't take a Holliday  —  Tucson - As Rockies position players arrive for physicals today, left fielder Matt Holliday discussed the health of his defense.  —  Holliday, an all-star and a Silver Slugger, knows he must get better.  His glove caught plenty of flak last season …

Nats' Cordero Takes Everything in Stride  —  The newest millionaire in the Washington Nationals' clubhouse was, prior to his arbitration hearing earlier this week, offered a two-year contract.  He declined.  —  "I don't know why I didn't do it," Chad Cordero said Thursday.  "I wanted to."

Myers fires next derogatory shot at Mets  —  Phillies notebook  —  CLEARWATER, Fla — This is starting to get just a bit silly, or as the New York Daily News put it, "Sillie Phillie."  In volley five of the give-and-take between the New York Mets and Phillies, the Mets' reaction was characterized as …

Yankees' Young Pitchers Draw Rave Reviews  —  There were cheers for the past at Legends Field on Thursday when fans saluted Andy Pettitte.  There was the intrigue of the unknown, when Kei Igawa took the mound.  But mostly, there was the promise of youth.  —  The Yankees' five regular …

A pain in the neck  —  Bout of arthritis knocks out Duque  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Orlando Hernandez officially may be listed as 37 years old, but he has the aches of someone a few years older.  El Duque traveled to New York yesterday so Mets doctor Struan Coleman could examine his cranky neck at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Eckstein plays on, mindful of the business  —  JUPITER, FLA. — December 2004 burned a two-week hole in David Eckstein's eternal optimism.  —  It's still there.  —  Two years into his term with the Cardinals and eight months shy of possible free agency, Eckstein speaks enthusiastically …

Ortiz expects win fifth starter job for Giants  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Russ Ortiz expects nothing less than to be in San Francisco's rotation as the fifth starter this season.  —  That's why he returned to the comfort of his former club for 2007, and the Giants brought him back because they believe he can fill that void.

Pirates Notebook: Matos good bet to make team  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — It would appear that Luis Matos will have a hard time not making the Pirates' 25-man roster out of spring training.  —  Asked yesterday how Matos might fit in with the team's needs …

Piniella's pitch: Keep 'em fresh  —  Manager rarely lets starters go past 120  —  MESA, Ariz. — Manager Lou Piniella stressed Thursday that the Cubs will not overextend their starting pitchers this season and risk injury by letting them throw more than 120 pitches in games.

Mariners Notebook: Book tells tale of Ichiro's plate production over six years  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — There is a book on Ichiro Suzuki, just like every player in baseball.  —  Most books tell a pitcher how to get a hitter out.  This book doesn't do that.  —  His agent, Tony Attanasio, put this book together.

Willie: Cliff's crossed up  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel said they still "love" Cliff Floyd.  —  That doesn't mean they cared for him characterizing the manager as "confused" during the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS - or for Floyd portraying Randolph …

Learning curve  —  Pitcher Henry Owens put off his dream to attend medical school to pursue a career in baseball.  —  dneal@MiamiHerald.com  —  JUPITER - Most 27-year-olds aren't where they thought they would be 10 years ago.  —  In that regard, Marlins pitcher Henry Owens isn't much different from his peers.