Guillen likes what he sees in right-hander Russell  —  Russell has done that and more, pushing his way into the mix as a surprise candidate to break camp with the big-leaguers.  —  ''Adam Russell, enjoy the ride,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said Monday after another solid performance from the hard-throwing right-hander.

Nats sign Astacio to Minor League deal  —  Veteran right-hander will start season at Triple-A Columbus  —  JUPITER, Fla. — In need of pitching depth down the road, the Nationals signed right-hander Pedro Astacio to a non-guaranteed Minor League deal on Tuesday.

Hot stove talk  —  Manny breaks silence, but it takes a grilling  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — "Mirabelli, I'm a businessman," Manny Ramírez yelled across the clubhouse to Doug Mirabelli with a smile.  "Got to make a little money."  —  Ramírez sat down at his locker …

Uecker's Stalker Shows Up At Spring Training Game  —  PHOENIX — An attorney for a woman ordered to stay away from Brewers' broadcaster Bob Uecker said if Uecker wasn't at the spring training game that she attended Monday, then she wasn't violating the restraining order.

Notes: Benitez, Julio eyed in deal  —  Marlins trying to land veteran reliver before Opening Day  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Pursuing trade options for a closer remains a real possibility for the Marlins.  —  Sources continue to say the team has interest in veterans Armando Benitez and Jorge Julio.

Indians hire formerly imprisoned sportscaster  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Cleveland Indians are taking a chance on a sportscaster fresh out of prison for not paying taxes on gambling earnings.  —  SportsTime Ohio, a 24-hour TV network owned by the club, announced Tuesday …

It's anyone's ball game  —  Freeway World Series beckons as parity grips MLB  —  Here is a message for George Steinbrenner, Derek Jeter, Brian Cashman and everyone else who has bought in to the Yankees culture that the season is a failure if New York does not win the World Series: The '90s are so over.

Little given one-year contract extension  —  Dodgers manager rewarded for guiding club to playoffs in '06  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — Grady Little, the Dodgers' surprising hire as manager more than a year ago, was rewarded Tuesday for last season's on-field turnaround with a one-year contract extension.

Rangers' mid-spring analysis  —  Lineup is taking shape, but questions remain at some positions  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  Infielders  —  1B Mark Teixeira, 2B Ian Kinsler, 3B Hank Blalock, SS Michael Young, UTIL Jerry Hairston Jr.  —  Closeup on Jerry Hairston Jr.: The difficult decision involves INF Matt Kata.

Indians tab Carmona as fifth starter  —  Demotion of Miller ends competition for final rotation spot  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Adam Miller's re-assignment to Minor League camp Tuesday means the battle for the fifth spot in the Cleveland rotation is officially over.

Young Brew Crew thinking two-strike swing, playoffs  —  Miller: Five things to know  —  MARYVALE, Ariz. — Among the more unsavory news stories in recent weeks was the item that misconnected toilets in Milwaukee's Miller Park were flushing into the Menomonee River and, eventually, Lake Michigan.

NY Yankees 2, Philadelphia 0  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kei Igawa took a major step toward earning a spot in New York Yankees' rotation at the start of the season.  —  Igawa allowed two hits over five innings Tuesday night in the New York Yankees 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Brewers announce special savings for juniors, seniors and military  —  Free Terrace level tickets offered to active and retired military personnel  —  MILWAUKEE — For the third consecutive season, the Milwaukee Brewers will honor members of the United States Armed Forces through Stars …

Angelos Says Plenty  —  It's better to remain silent and be thought a meddlesome nightmare owner than to speak and remove all doubt.  Now the Orioles and their fans know the truth.  Peter Angelos hasn't changed.  His silence in recent years, the claims of his organization …