NETTLES BATTLING CANCER  —  Cancer has invaded the Yankees' family again.  —  Former third baseman Graig Nettles is facing April 8 prostate surgery at Manhattan's Sloan Kettering Hospital.  —  “I was diagnosed the day before Thanksgiving,” Nettles told The Post yesterday.

Ensberg added to 40-man roster  —  The Yankees tonight added Morgan Ensberg to the 40-man roster.  He will make $1.75 million.  —  He has no options, so this mean that Ensberg is going to make the team.  Now that he knows his status, Ensberg said his next move would be to get a new number.

Pedro says he won't bug Mets for extension  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The first thing Pedro Martinez showed everyone Friday at Tradition Field is that he is very capable of getting hitters out, at any speed.  And when Martinez was done bobbing and weaving through the Nationals for five innings …

Castillo's future with Marlins now uncertain  —  KISSIMMEE — Jose Castillo thinks he has given the Marlins this spring what they told him they wanted when he signed in December - solid defense at third base.  —  That's why he was surprised that the Marlins placed him on waivers …

Cubs' DeRosa sick of trade talks  —  Makes a stand, says he should play  —  TUCSON, Ariz. - Opening Day is only nine days away, but Mark DeRosa still doesn't know if he will be in the starting lineup.  —  It all depends on whether general manager Jim Hendry acquires Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts …

Trade partners hard for White Sox to find  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Trade talks haven't materialized in the manner general manager Ken Williams envisioned five weeks ago.  —  “I've had very few conversations this spring,” Williams said Friday.  —  Most of the attention has centered …

Buchholz stays on right track … TOKYO - Clay Buchholz ran into a slight, second-inning hiccup before a singing and chanting sellout crowd at last night's exhibition game against the Hanshin Tigers in the Tokyo Dome.  Other than that, the rookie right-hander remained on track to accomplish …

Angels have options: Aybar or Izturis for shortstop?  —  Neither candidate has made an error in exhibition play.  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — With nine days to go before the season opener, neither Erick Aybar nor Maicer Izturis has emerged as a clear-cut favorite for the shortstop job.

Wang will start Opening Day for Yanks  —  Right-hander coming off back-to-back 19-win seasons  —  TAMPA, Fla. — One year ago, Chien-Ming Wang got his hopes up to pitch on Opening Day before suffering both an injury and ultimate disappointment, forced to watch from a Tampa apartment as his team went north without him.

Pierre disappointed in starting status  —  Manager Torre meets with outfielder to discuss matter  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Juan Pierre was back in the starting lineup in left field on Friday, one day after coming off the bench as a pinch-hitter, then meeting with manager Joe Torre after the game.

Recurring shoulder pain worries Bucs' Sanchez  —  Former batting champion concerned about shoulder  —  BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Second baseman Freddy Sanchez felt pain Friday in his surgically repaired right shoulder, a major setback that may force him to begin a second consecutive season on the Pittsburgh Pirates' disabled list.