Pap, Sox agree to deal  —  The Red Sox and closer Jonathan Papelbon have agreed to a one-year deal worth $775,000.  —  That's more than closer Bobby Jenks got with a similar amount of service time, as he signed a $550,000 contract.  Papelbon was looking for a deal in the range of $900,000 …

Omar Minaya: No time to panic  —  VIERA, Fla. - The Mets might not be the picture of health, but their GM maintains a healthy attitude.  Even though his ballclub has been ravaged by injuries this spring, Omar Minaya insists it is too soon too panic.  —  “I myself have never seen so many injuries at one time,” Minaya said.

Johnson looks likely to start season on the disabled list  —  JUPITER, FLA. — Cardinals reliever Tyler Johnson is expected start the season on the disabled list, and he will have to be more diligent in his conditioning or risk a chronic shoulder problem, the team's doctor said.

Lowry to have surgery on left arm  —  Giants starter expected to be out two to three weeks  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Giants left-hander Noah Lowry will undergo surgery Friday in San Francisco to relieve a condition in his throwing arm, which will sideline him for two to three weeks.

Harper: Girardi's conditional success  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - At about this time last year it was the Yankees, not the Mets, who were wearing out the MRI machines, piling up injuries to such an extreme that they fired their new strength and conditioning coach.  This year, with Joe Girardi running …

Chamberlain holds a starting gun  —  The New York Yankees' 2007 playoff run had barely ended when Hank Steinbrenner declared that hard-throwing rookie right-hander Joba Chamberlain would be installed in the Yankees starting rotation for 2008.  As spring training approached, however …

Hillman delivers on-field lecture to players over sloppy base-running despite victory  —  It didn't matter Thursday that Ryan Shealy had just hit a game-ending homer for a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Surprise Stadium.  Or that the Royals had just won their fourth game in a row.

Baseball Taps Wisdom of Fans  —  If you've ever dreamed of being a Major League Baseball scout, your day has come.  —  Last month, the St. Louis Cardinals announced a novel contest: Fans are invited to submit scouting reports on promising college ballplayers.

Farnsworth happy there's a new Joe in charge  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Perhaps no Yankee player is happier than Kyle Farnsworth with the switch in the manager's office from Joe Torre to Joe Girardi.  And not just because he doesn't have to listen to Torre call him “Farnsie” anymore.

Notes: Turnbow gaining attention  —  Former closer benefiting from adjustment of mechanics  —  PHOENIX — Ben Sheets pitched three more scoreless innings Thursday, but the Brewers pitcher garnering raves in the clubhouse was reliever Derrick Turnbow, who is rejuvenated since a mechanical fix.

Q & A: Baseball Guru Bill James  —  Bill James, the legendary baseball stat guru and godfather of the data-driven “Moneyball” movement that has changed how front offices evaluate players, has written a new book, The Bill James Gold Mine 2008.  TIME's Sean Gregory caught up with James …

Ponson garners attention at camp  —  Right-hander throws off bullpen mound; scouts take notice  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals offered Sidney Ponson a mound to showcase his stuff, largely as a favor to the right-hander and his agent, Barry Praver.  It turns out, however …

Notes: Haren working on new pitch  —  Elevating fastball could give hitters more to worry about  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Dan Haren gave National League hitters another thing to keep in the back of their minds when they face him this year as he worked on elevating his fastball during his second start of the spring on Thursday.

Righty Eaton bothered by back pain  —  Veteran struggling early in bid to crack Phils' five-man rotation  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Adam Eaton pinpointed his struggles on Thursday afternoon.  —  The right-hander lasted two innings in his second Grapefruit League outing and complained about lower …