Mets add to crowded rotation competition, sign pitcher Livan Hernandez  —  Mets GM Omar Minaya said on Feb. 3 that there would be no more “big moves” prior to the Mets breaking camp in Port St. Lucie this week, but he didn't say anything about making another call to arms.

Amid Scandal, ‘Alex Rodriguez Park’ Is Unveiled  —  CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The centerpieces gave off the scent of innocence in bloom.  At every table on the baseball field Friday night there were glass vases filled with unshelled peanuts, Cracker Jack and toy baseballs, with miniature bats rising …

Angels sign Ervin Santana to multiyear contract  —  The agreement allows the pitcher and club to avoid arbitration.  The four-year deal is believed to be worth at least $30 million and also includes an option year.  —  Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — The Angels secured one of their top young pitchers …

Wade defends pursuit of Wolf, Looper  —  Astros GM's last-minute offers passed over; Pudge deal unlikely  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Hoping to sign one of the last remaining veteran starting pitchers on the free-agent market this offseason, Astros general manager Ed Wade recently made what he categorized as …

Young, veteran O's meet in Florida  —  Uehara, Wieters, Zaun among pitchers, catchers reporting  —  BALTIMORE — The long wait is over.  —  The Orioles will begin their preparations for the 2009 season on Saturday, when their pitchers and catchers are required to report to the team's Spring Training facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Melancon eyes bigs  —  When Mark Melancon took his place in major league spring training a year ago, he knew the New York Yankees were doing him a favor.  —  Twenty-two years old, coming off significant elbow surgery, with a professional resume that spanned only seven games in short season Staten Island …

A Tigers trade likely coming  —  I'd be surprised if the Tigers didn't make some kind of trade, perhaps a big one, before the end of spring camp.  —  The team could — could — be staring at an excess of starting pitchers if Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis perform reliably, which is hardly a stretch.

Varitek speaks on his return  —  Jason Varitek just spoke to the media, making clear that his priority from the start of his free agency was to exhaust every opportunity to stay in Boston, but that getting a multi-year commitment was his key goal if that could be accomplished.

Manuel: There's no ‘I’ in team  —  The biggest message from Jerry Manuel's opening remarks this morning was his renewed emphasis on unselfish play for the upcoming season.  And the manager immediately put that to the test by suggesting that Jose Reyes may be dropped to the No. 2 spot …