ICON'S NEXT PACT WILL BE MOTHER OF ALL YANK FLAPS  —  CONSIDER this week, when Joe Torre revealed his inner vigilante, to be just another trial run toward the mother of all Yankee controversies.  —  Because if you think Torre blindsiding Brian Cashman or the Yanks slashing Andy Pettitte's salary …

Truck Day is here!  —  Sorry Punxsutawney Phil and your six-more-weeks-of-winter prediction, but if you live in New England and are a fan of Red Sox, a sure sign of spring has arrived — Truck Day!  —  The 18-wheeler that carries the Red Sox' spring training equipment from Boston to Fort Myers …

Rays sign righty Abreu to Minors deal  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays signed right-hander Winston Abreu to a Minor League deal Friday with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.  —  Abreu, 31, last pitched in the Major Leagues for the Nationals in 2007, when he went 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA in 26 games.

Stark: Rumblings and Grumblings  —  We don't use words like “collusion” lightly at times like this, in a world like this.  —  So somewhere in this column, we're going to search for a different word, a more fitting word, to describe what might be the strangest offseason in modern baseball history.

Mets sign Pedro Feliciano, avoid arbitration  —  The Mets have signed lefty reliever Pedro Feliciano to a one-year contract for $1,612,500, Newsday has learned, meaning that Omar Minaya and his crew will not have go to to an arbitration hearing with any of their players.

Bush in hot water again, Padres cut him loose  —  Matt Bush's days as a Padre are over.  —  And they ended in much the same way they began - with a controversial incident that involves the police.  —  The Padres designated Bush for assignment Thursday, just as El Cajon police were looking …

Million Manny March only brings 10-15 Mets fans  —  Compared to last week, the smattering of Mets fans willing to brave the cold outside SNY studios in Manhattan for the second “Million Manny March” accurately reflected the team's likelihood of landing Manny Ramirez - rapidly dwindling.

Seasons of Change, Part 1 (of 2)  —  What a difference 10 years can make.  —  We are not far from the beginning of spring training - which also marks the beginning of the 2009 Major League Baseball season - and this can be hard to fathom for those of us in the snowy, cold northern states and Canada.

Andruw Jones turns down Yankees' offer  —  The Yankees offered centerfielder Andruw Jones a minor-league contract last month and Jones' agent, Scott Boras, turned it down, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed to Newsday yesterday.  —  Jones, released by the Dodgers after a horrendous 2008 season …

Pudge a possibility for Marlins, but only at sale price  —  Marlins catcher Pudge Rodriguez hangs on to the ball as the Giants J.T. Snow tries to knock it loose.  The Marlins held on for a 7-6 win over San Francisco in Game 4 of the 2003 Division Series.  (Sun-Sentinel/Robert Duyos)

Pitching Perspectives with Rick Peterson: Understanding the Epidemic of Youth Pitching Injuries  —  Bridging the Gap Between Potential and Peak Performance  —  Young pitchers are in trouble.  While that may sound like hyperbole at its finest, it most assuredly isn't.