Register might be next in line  —  If Duaner Sanchez isn't ready to break camp with the Mets, and it's certainly possible, it would seem that the next reliever in line would be Rule 5 pick Steven Register from the Rockies.  —  Basically, the Mets paid $50,000 to the Rockies to draft Register (pictured) during the winter meetings.

Venues set for World Baseball Classic  —  Japan, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico to host first round in '09  —  The first-round venues are set for the second running of the World Baseball Classic, which will begin on March 5, 2009, in Japan.  —  As in 2006, Tokyo Dome and Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan …

Valuing Miguel Cabrera  —  Miguel Cabrera is reportedly close to signing an eight-year $152.3 million deal.  As hard as this is to believe, given the contract size, this is an amazing deal for Dave Dombrowski and the Detroit Tigers.  I have Cabrera valued at $268 million over this time period …

No change in plan for Mendoza  —  Fifth starter to open season in Triple-A before April 12 debut  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Luis Mendoza has left no doubt that he belongs in the Rangers' rotation.  —  He'll just have to wait a few more weeks before he gets to enjoy the full benefits and privileges that go with that honor.

Rox making roster moves  —  Giles on trading block; Wells bound for bullpen  —  TUCSON — As spring training winds down, the Rockies began making significant roster moves today.  —  They are trying to trade veteran second baseman Marcus Giles to the injury-riddled Dodgers.

Casey injury forces Sox roster shuffle … TOKYO - A new injury has forced the Red Sox [team stats]' specialized Japanese-only roster to be re-jiggered the day before the season opens.  —  Sean Casey's stiff neck, which came from the plane ride over here, has forced him to be one of the three players on the inactive list.

Trade review: Bobby Abreu  —  You folks seemed to enjoy my trade analysis of Edgar Renteria and Andy Marte a month or so back.  Unsurprisingly I got a ton of e-mails asking me to look back at some other recent trades.  Today I look back at the Bobby Abreu trade that moved him to the Yankees from Philadelphia in July 2006.

Backing up: Yankees' Pettitte still bothered by back spasms  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Andy Pettitte underwent treatment but did not play catch Sunday, one day after being scratched from a scheduled start due to back spasms.  —  “I was really feeling pretty good last night, and feeling good about it …

Girardi seeks relief from numbers game  —  BRADENTON, Fla. - One week.  Three spots.  Eleven pitchers.  —  That will be Joe Girardi's concern over the next seven days, as the Yankees manager looks to fill out his bullpen for the start of the regular season.

PIRATES 8, YANKEES 0  —  Yankees at the plate: With most of the team's starters not making the trip south, the Yankees didn't have much going at the plate all afternoon.  Hideki Matsui and Chris Woodward were the only starters to get a hit against Pirates lefty Paul Maholm.