Padres to release Todd Walker, save $3 million  —  The Padres said they will release utility infielder Todd Walker on Tuesday, which will save the club close to $3 million in salary unless it loses a grievance to the players' union.  —  An arbitration panel last month set Walker's salary at $3.95 million …

Decision time for Rangers rotation  —  Wright, Loe likely to make team; question involves their roles  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - All that's left is the decision.  —  The Rangers have watched Jamey Wright and Kameron Loe pitch all spring.

Throwing us a curve  —  Matsuzaka has little command and less comment  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Dice-K Dissection.  Prepare yourself, Red Sox fans.  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched five innings of no-hit baseball in a 5-0 spring training loss to the Cincinnati Reds yesterday, but that's not the story.

D-backs acquire Petit from Marlins  —  Arizona ships right-handed reliever Julio, cash to Florida  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The D-backs acquired prospect Yusmeiro Petit from the Marlins on Monday in exchange for reliever Jorge Julio and cash considerations.  —  Petit made his big-league debut …

Brewers acquire Dessens for Clark  —  Veteran right-hander to fill long relief role for Milwaukee  —  PHOENIX — The Brewers eased their outfield logjam and added a bullpen arm on Monday, trading Brady Clark, their Opening Day center fielder in each of the previous two seasons, to the Dodgers for right-handed veteran Elmer Dessens.

Emil Brown fed up with criticism  —  Royals outfielder sick and tired of people calling him an "adventure" in the outfield.  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. |  Emil Brown glanced at the lineup card Sunday morning in the Royals' clubhouse, turned and observed to anyone within listening distance:

Papelbon moves up: Closer seeks new arm slot  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Jonathan Papelbon [stats] is back in the one-and-done business, and yesterday it looked like he had not missed much while he was gone.  —  In his first one-inning stint since he and the Red Sox [team stats] …

Ticket Woes Mar Run-Up To Opener  —  Some Nats Fans Await Arrival of Season Passes  —  One week before the Washington Nationals open their third season in the District — their first full year under the new ownership group headed by Theodore Lerner — some of the club's most ardent fans …

Zambrano mulls his '08 workplace  —  If he and Cubs part, Mets a possibility—as are the White Sox  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — With six days left to reach a contract extension before Opening Day, Carlos Zambrano is discussing the possibility of wearing a New York Mets uniform next year.

There's just a passion about the numbers in baseball … I learned a new number recently.  I now know how many yards Dan Marino, the record holder, threw for in his NFL career.  I'm told by football stat guys that it's an "awkward" number, but before the other day, I wouldn't have come within 10,000 yards of the correct number.

Tests signal return a go for Karstens  —  Read Mark Feinsand's Blogging the Bombers  —  TAMPA - Tests yesterday revealed no damage to Jeff Karstens' elbow, as an MRI and CT scan showed his arm to be in sound shape.  Joe Torre called it "outstanding news," though the team has no exact timetable for his return.

Albany D.A. to provide customer lists  —  Matthews is expected to be named in steroid and human growth hormone case, and Angels outfielder may be called to testify.  —  TEMPE, ARIZ. — Major League Baseball should get a better handle on the scope of a state and federal investigation …

Frustrated Sanchez gets second opinion on injured knee  —  BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez, frustrated with a slow-to-heal knee injury as opening day approaches, sought a second opinion Monday that confirmed the Pittsburgh Pirates' evaluation of a sprained right knee ligament.

Howell, Jackson fighting for No. 5 slot  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Six pitchers set their sights on the No. 5 slot in the Devil Rays' starting rotation when pitchers and catchers first congregated in the middle of February.  —  Just over a month later, that number has been whittled down to two …

No indications that deals are imminent for Buehrle, Dye, Iguchi  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — This was supposed to be deadline week for Mark Buehrle and his fellow free-agents-to-be on the White Sox.  —  The team made that clear when general manager Ken Williams said the Sox would listen throughout spring training …

Mota's teammates willing to forgive and forget  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Guillermo Mota was banned 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy, but the Mets hardly made him feel like an outsider yesterday when he showed up at camp for the first time.  He was universally embraced by his teammates …