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 …

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.

Blue Jays sign Benitez to minor-league deal  —  Relief pitcher Armando Benitez agreed to Tuesday to a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  The deal was first reported by FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.  —  The 35-year-old right-hander went 2-8 with a 5.37 ERA and nine saves …

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.

On the Beat: Talking With Peter Abraham  —  On the Beat is FanHouse's conversation with some of the game's top sports writers.  Today we're talking with Peter Abraham, who covers the New York Yankees for The Journal News and whose immensely popular LoHud Yankees Blog sets the online standard for beat writers.

Beckett update  —  I have to apologize for my tardiness in blogging the lineups.  It's been a busy morning, with an appearance by Mike Greenwell.  Greenwell walked into the clubhouse and had to go by a security guard.  The exchange:  —  Security guard: “Umm.  Can I help you?”

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 …

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.

Billy Crystal to Join Yankees, Play in Spring-Training Game  —  Comedian Billy Crystal will sign a one-day contract with the New York Yankees and play in a spring- training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 13, one day before his 60th birthday.  —  Crystal is a New York native …

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 …