Pedro pitching for new deal … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - You didn't honestly think he was going to make the trip, did you?  —  The New York Mets will be in Fort Myers to face the Red Sox [team stats] (again) today, and it is Pedro Martinez' day to pitch.  But by the time the Mets take the field …

3 DOWN: Reed Johnson, Blanton and Benitez  —  1. The Mets have inquired with the Blue Jays about righty-hitting outfielders Shannon Stewart and Reed Johnson.  It would seem unlikely that Stewart would be a match for the Mets because he is not suited to play right field …

Beckett to miss Red Sox's MLB opener in Japan … FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox haven't broken the news to the good people of Japan yet that Josh Beckett isn't going to be starting Opening Day in Tokyo.  —  But it's all but official now: Josh Beckett isn't going to be starting Opening Day in Tokyo.

Bored...  I didn't expect Joba, Ian and I to get so many questions about the three of us this spring.  We've done two tri-interviews the last couple days.  The most recent being this afternoon with the YES network.  We've been asked everything from Joba's role this season to which nickname …

X-rays on Damon's right foot negative  —  Yanks outfielder injured after fouling ball off in Monday's win  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon had X-rays and an MRI exam taken on his injured right foot at a local hospital on Tuesday.  Both were negative.

Sox win  —  The Red Sox won today, snapping their seven-game winless streak, with a 4-3 triumph over the Mets.  —  As for those comments from Mike Greenwell, who threw out the first pitch yesterday at City of Palms Park, he discussed the steroids issue this afternoon.

Cervelli to have surgery Wednesday  —  Catching prospect fractured wrist in home-plate collision  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees catching prospect Francisco Cervelli will undergo surgery on his fractured right wrist on Wednesday in New York and is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.

Joel Hanrahan awesome, Zimmerman removed  —  Before we get to the Joel Hanrahan stuff, a quick update: Ryan Zimmerman was removed from tonight's game against the Braves here at Disney with right hip flexor tightness.  The club said it was a precautionary move.

Inquiry Into Doctor May Link Players to Drugs  —  Prosecutors at the United States attorney's office for the Northern District of California are investigating a California doctor to determine whether he illegally wrote prescriptions for patients, including major league baseball players …

Young Yankees Pitcher Has Love for Ranching  —  TAMPA, Fla. — There are 52 players in the Yankees' camp, winnowed from 69 at the start of spring training.  By the end of the month, more than half of those remaining will be farmed out to the minors.  At any time, the team could bring in better players through a trade.

Spring hot spot: St. Petersburg  —  Rays hoping for new downtown ballpark … ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — On the list of hideously ugly big-league ballparks, Tropicana Field in Tampa ranks right near the top.  The Trop is the antithesis of what a modern ballpark should be.

Lasorda storms onto field to argue call  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP)—Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda returned to the dugout as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for the first time in 12 years.  —  He didn't stay there long.  —  Lasorda, who retired from managing in 1996 after 21 years …

Rangers rebuff interest in Laird  —  Club has no plans to deal likely Opening Day catcher  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers are getting interest from other teams in catcher Gerald Laird, but they aren't inclined to discuss him right now.  —  Teams just aren't eager to trade their Opening …

From Start, Rodriguez Worked to Be the Best  —  TAMPA — Bobby Meacham was a shortstop who had been a first-round draft choice, so he kept an eye out for players of the same pedigree.  One such player crossed his path in Zebulon, N.C., in 1994.  —  Meacham was the manager of the Carolina Mudcats …