Lackey out of action for 3-4 weeks  —  Strained triceps forces ace to join Escobar on sidelines  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Angels ace John Lackey has been diagnosed with a strained right triceps after an examination on Friday by Dr. Lewis Yocum, team orthopedist.

Steinbrenner jabs Rays  —  The acrimony between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays took on a new edge Friday, after Major League Baseball handed down its punishment for Wednesday's melee between the two teams.  —  This time, Yankees general partner Hank Steinbrenner took up the charge …

Dice, Dice baby: A Matsuzaka is born  —  Right-handed hurler becomes father to second child, first boy  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Daisuke Matsuzaka became a father again on Saturday morning, and as a result, he is all but certain to be able to join the Red Sox during the season-opening trip to his native country of Japan.

Minor League Report: Philosophy  —  Organization looks to minimize free bases from the ground up  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Rangers Minor League officials made a study of their six farm teams over the final three months of the 2007 season.  —  The officials found when their clubs allowed five …

Tense moment in China is diffused  —  BEIJING - Cool heads staved off a potential international incident involving uniformed Chinese security guards and - of all things - the autograph of nearly washed-up Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park.  —  Less than an hour after the Dodgers …

Traber added to 40-man roster  —  The Yankees today added LHP Billy Traber to the 40-man roster and placed RHP Andrew Brackman on the 60-day disabled list.  —  This not necessarily mean that Traber will be on the man roster on March 31.  But don't bet against it.  He has appeared in five games this spring.

Parra, Bush shine against Royals  —  Brewers get strong outings from rotation candidates  —  BREWERS 8, ROYALS 3  —  Royals at the plate: Kansas City benefited from some sloppy Brewers defense in the fourth inning, taking a 1-0 lead with help from two errors.

Glut gone, Rays begin search for outfielder  —  TAMPA — For years, the Rays were known for their glut of outfielders.  —  But after last week's acknowledgement that they'll be without Rocco Baldelli indefinitely, following the offseason trades of Delmon Young, Jason Pridie and Elijah Dukes …

Brewers add three to list of first cuts  —  Dillard sent to Triple-A; Bouchie, LaPorta head to Minors camp  —  PHOENIX — Turns out that the Brewers' cut list was a bit longer than the team first reported Friday.  —  On Saturday came news that right-hander Tim Dillard had been optioned …

Upstarts Could Shake Up Status Quo in A.L. East  —  It hasn't always been this way; it only seems like it: the Yankees and the Red Sox finishing one-two in the American League East, in whichever order, and each reaching the playoffs, one as the division champion, the other as the wild card.

Castillo Feels No Pain in Spring Debut  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Luis Castillo became the last Mets regular to make his Grapefruit League debut.  Then he spoke optimistically about playing enough in the team's final 13 spring games to be ready for the regular season.  —  “I need to play,” Castillo said Saturday.

Big Unit sees improvement vs. Angels  —  Hurler concerned by low pitch count in second spring start  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Randy Johnson knows he still has a long way to go in his rehab from back surgery, but he is definitely pleased with his progress.  —  Johnson allowed just one hit …

Vargas seeks second opinion on hip  —  Mets lefty has made only one Grapefruit League appearance  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets starting pitcher Jason Vargas traveled to Colorado on Saturday for a second opinion on his sore left hip, which may require surgery.