Sheets might need elbow surgery  —  Deal with Rangers called off; Brewers may pay for procedure  —  MILWAUKEE — Finally, an answer to one of this winter's most puzzling questions: Why is the National League's All-Star Game starting pitcher still looking for a job?

Mets sign Dessens to minor league deal  —  Former Rockies continue to find jobs as spring training approaches.  Pitcher Elmer Dessens, who gulped up some important innings for the 2007 NL pennant winning club, signed a $600,000-minor-league deal with the Mets.  He's guaranteed $72,000.

Latest on Manny Derby and notes around majors (cont.)  —  In any case, the idea of a trio of good or better players replacing one all-time great (Abreu, Orlando Hudson and Wolf might cost about what Ramirez costs, discounting the fact Ramirez is a draw who'll bring in several million extra dollars) …

Lisa Guerrero — Jason Giambi on Joe Torre's book: 'It's hurtful'  —  While Joe Torre continues to plug his book, “The Yankee Years,” in New York as the Dodgers winter caravan continues without him, feedback is still rolling in, this time from one of the players mentioned in the tell-all.

Classic will let Jeter face Yankees  —  Captain looking forward to playing teammates in March game  —  NEW YORK — Derek Jeter playing against the New York Yankees?  —  For years, that scenario has been a fascinating what-might-have-been: five big league teams passed on the opportunity …

Mariners sign Tyler Johnson  —  Fresh off the presses, the Mariners just inked former Cardinals lefty reliever Tyler Johnson to a minor-league contract.  —  “Tyler is an experienced, left-handed reliever that gives us another option to look at for our bullpen,” Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said in a release.

Sampson anticipates start of camp  —  Reliever feeling strong after offseason elbow surgery  —  HOUSTON — With one day remaining until the Astros' equipment truck is packed up and shipped off to Kissimmee, Fla., reliever Chris Sampson dropped by the home clubhouse at Minute Maid Park …

Bush designated to clear room for Floyd  —  Former No. 1 pick draws interest from other clubs, says Towers  —  SAN DIEGO — If Matt Bush, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, is to make it to the Major Leagues, it won't be with the Padres.

25 Random Facts About 25 Random Yankees  —  There's a phenomenon going around on Facebook these days where people write a note listing 25 random facts about themselves.  With spring training still a week away, I thought we'd take a break from dissecting Joe Torre's book and offer a similar note here on Bats.

Bruney fit for Yank pen  —  TAMPA - On a clear, cold day, Brian Bruney stood in the outfield grass at the Yankees' minor-league complex, playing an easy game of catch with fellow reliever Jonathan Albaladejo on Thursday.  Bruney looked trim and fit and when someone mentioned that to him, he replied, “I feel awesome.”

Platoon math and the not-so-odd lottery oddity  —  Mathematics is a great subject and everything, but sometimes, I feel it's kind of limiting.  —  For instance, say we have a place in the tropics where sometimes it's 80 degrees, sometimes it's 85 degrees, and it's never anything outside that range.

Martinez out of Caribbean Series  —  Mets' touted outfield prospect sidelined by sore left elbow  —  MEXICALI, Mexico — The Caribbean Series is over for Mets prospect Fernando Martinez.  —  The right-handed-throwing outfielder is nursing a sore right elbow and will fly to New York on Thursday night for a checkup.

Welcome, Cliff Floyd  —  Today we announced the signing of veteran OF, Cliff Floyd.  —  We've been talking for a number of weeks internally about the need to add a left-handed bat into the mix, as our bench was looking awfully right-handed.  In an ideal world, we wanted to find a guy …