Santana takes Mets to ‘different level’ … PHILADELPHIA — As you watched Johan Santana overmatch the Phillies on Friday in his first visit to Philadelphia as a Met, it was hard to resist asking this question:  —  Suppose he'd been a Met last year.  —  Suppose the Mets could have sent Santana …

JOBA EXPECTED BACK FOR TONIGHT'S GAME  —  BALTIMORE — Joba Chamberlain is expected back from the bereavement list in time for tonight's game against the Orioles at Camden Yards and Jorge Posada was slated to play first base against lefty Brian Burres instead of the slumping Jason Giambi.

Source: Farns to be suspended for throwing at Manny  —  Kyle Farnsworth may have said he didn't throw at Manny Ramirez intentionally Thursday night, but apparently, Major League Baseball believes otherwise.  —  According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Farnsworth …

Free Agent Stock Watch: Ben Sheets  —  It looks like Ben Sheets made the right decision by signing a four-year contract with the Brewers after his spectacular 2004 season.  The then-25-year-old tossed 237 innings to the tune of a 2.70 ERA, striking out 264 to just 32 walks, with a WHIP below 1.00.

Cantu disputes woman's claim  —  MIAMI GARDENS - Third baseman Jorge Cantu and his agent both insist a domestic violence matter won't interrupt his season.  —  According to the St. Petersburg Times, Cantu has a Wednesday court date in Pinellas County stemming from a temporary protection order filed against him earlier this week.

Young complies with manager, cuts hair  —  First baseman's ‘special barber’ trims bushy locks in Miami  —  MIAMI — Nationals manager Manny Acta, concerned that injured infielder Dmitri Young's big, curly Afro was becoming too much of a distraction, told the injured first baseman …

Rays claim Johnson on waivers after release  —  (04-18) 21:18 PDT — The A's couldn't hang onto Dan Johnson any longer.  —  Though there hadn't been any opportunity for the first baseman/designated hitter to play this year, the team waited as long as it could before taking him off the big-league roster.

Angels' Hunter OK after his high-priced car is hit  —  Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Torii Hunter was smiling and joking during batting practice and preparing to play the Seattle Mariners last night.  —  He wasn't grinning a few hours earlier, when his new car was rear-ended at a stop light near the ballpark.

Astros pick up right-hander Soler  —  Club, Cuban pitcher agree to terms on one-year contract  —  Houston continues to mine the free agent market, looking for any available, experienced arm.  To that end, the Astros have agreed to terms with right-hander Alay Soler on a one-year deal.

Cubs recall Murton from Minors  —  Infielder/outfielder Patterson optioned to Triple-A Iowa  —  CHICAGO — Matt Murton strode into the Cubs clubhouse for the first time this season, but he had no place to go.  —  Eric Patterson was still clearing out of Murton's prospective locker …

6-man rotation possible to protect ‘young arms’  —  Noah Lowry hopes to make his 2008 debut in May.  The question becomes which starter gets dropped from the rotation to make room for Lowry?  The answer might be nobody, because the Giants are toying with the idea of a six-man rotation.

Only Victory for Yanks: Moral One for Hughes  —  BALTIMORE — The Yankees have played 18 games, they have won half, and the earned run average of their starting pitchers is 5.50.  Whoever said that starting pitching would make or break the team — it was General Manager Brian Cashman, was it not? — made a valid point.