A-Rod admits, regrets use of PEDs  —  His voice shaking at times, Alex Rodriguez met head-on allegations that he tested positive for steroids six years ago, telling ESPN on Monday that he did take performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers during a three-year period beginning in 2001.

St. Louis Cardinals release Adam Kennedy  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The Cardinals have abruptly reversed course, releasing second baseman Adam Kennedy and declaring an open competition for the position, the Post-Dispatch has learned.  —  The move, apparently made at the strong urging of manager Tony La Russa …

Stuff on Looper  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  For those not acquainted with Braden Looper, he was a closer with Florida and the New York Mets before going to St. Louis and being converted to a starting pitcher the past two seasons.  —  Over that span, Looper went 24-26 with a 4.52 ERA in 63 starts.

Yomiuri Giants ink former MLB infielder Alfonzo  —  MIYAZAKI, Japan — The Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League have signed former major league infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a one-year contract worth $380,000.  —  The Giants signed the 35-year-old Venezuelan after giving him a tryout at their spring training camp.

Rangers Have Crowded Outfield  —  By Tim Dierkes [February 9 at 9:53am CST]  —  Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes that the Rangers have six candidates for the outfield: Josh Hamilton, Andruw Jones, Nelson Cruz, David Murphy, Frank Catalanotto, and Marlon Byrd.  Is a trade in order?

Source: Santana out of WBC  —  Johan Santana plans to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic at the request of Mets officials and remain in camp during spring training, the Daily News has learned.  Santana, who worked on his conditioning at the team's complex in Port St. Lucie Monday …

Neyer upsets Phillips in first semifinal … This isn't a fair fight.  Steve Phillips, a former general manager of the New York Mets, a guy who built a real major league team for seven years, against Rob Neyer, a baseball writer, a stat guy.  —  Baseball writers don't know anything about baseball; neither do stat guys.

Ensberg has shot to make Rays roster  —  Former All-Star third baseman Morgan Ensberg has reached agreement on a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.  —  Ensberg will earn a base salary of $650,000 if he makes the major league club out of spring training.

Ichiro Working Out as a Pitcher  —  You might remember a post I did last year that had a link to Ichiro pitching in the 1996 NPB All-Star Game.  Ichiro came out and immediately hit 90 on the TV gun on his first warm-up pitch, and then induced a soft grounder from pinch-hitter Shingo Takatsu.

Meanwhile, back on the diamond  —  Hey, actual baseball news!  —  Back when I wanted to write a spring training preview story, I talked to Brian Cashman.  He revealed a few things that are at least somewhat interesting.  —  · The Yankees will use Joba Chamberlain as their No. 5 starter from the start of the season.

Astros deny report of interest in signing Dunn  —  Adam Dunn's quest to find a home in 2009 apparently will not be taking him back to his native Houston.  —  Astros general manager Ed Wade denied a Chicago Tribune report that the club might be planning to offer Dunn a contract before the start of spring training.