Pirates, McLouth reach long-term deal  —  In a sharp reversal, the Pirates and center fielder Nate McLouth this morning agreed to terms on a three-year contract — plus a club option for a fourth — that avoided an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for this afternoon in Phoenix.

Former Cardinal Jason Isringhausen would like to make comeback with St. Louis Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The door for Jason Isringhausen's return to the Cardinals appears more closed than open, for now.  —  Pitchers and catchers have reported to all 30 major-league camps …

YES Pulls the Plug, Temporarily, on a Yankees Star  —  When Alex Rodriguez faces the news media Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., he will endure a barrage of questions, many of them ones that ESPN's Peter Gammons did not ask about A-Rod's 2003 positive steroid test that was first revealed by Sports Illustrated.

A Griffey sighting at Braves camp?  Where?  —  Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - When I walked into the Braves clubhouse this morning and saw a full Seattle Mariners equipment bag in the empty locker stall next to Chipper Jones' stall, I had the same reaction that Chipper had an hour earlier.

Santana delay a schedule issue  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Johan Santana's first Grapefruit League start will wait until March3 against the Cardinals, nearly a week into the Mets' spring schedule.  —  Pitching coach Dan Warthen said the delay isn't related to Santana's return from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

More On Perez  —  The Washington Nationals thought they were getting a pitcher.  Instead, they've gotten a problem.  This morning Manager Manny Acta said that the organization has yet to make contact with absent pitcher Odalis Perez, who is holding out for a better contract.

Ryan Ludwick has a done deal, Cardinals confirm  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick and the club have agreed to a one-year deal and avoided tomorrow's scheduled arbitration hearing.  General manager John Mozeliak just confirmed that a deal was struck early this evening …

Bud Selig to baseball fans: Don't blame me  —  In a lengthy telephone interview Monday, the commissioner of baseball strongly disputed the widely held perception that he was in any way complicit in the proliferation of steroids in major-league baseball during the past 15 years.

Chemistry a top priority for Mariners  —  Wakamatsu determined to have roster of ‘team’ players  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — It is difficult enough to take over a team that lost more than 100 games the previous year, but perhaps the biggest challenge facing Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu this season …

Josh Gibson, Shoeless Joe and the Semi-Pros  —  Quick quiz for the baseball history buffs out there.  Did you ever wonder how well the Negro League teams did against semi-pro teams?  If the answer is “yes” then we have good news and bad news.  First, the bad news: You're a dork.  Okay, that's fine.

Guthrie selected for Team USA  —  O's pitcher will represent country in next month's World Baseball Classic  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie has been selected for the final roster of Team USA for next month's World Baseball Classic.

Izzo's testimony ties him to drugs  —  Patriot was supplied by Bonds's trainer  —  After years of downplaying his role in the steroids scandal, Patriots special teams captain Larry Izzo is prepared to testify at Barry Bonds's criminal trial that Bonds's personal trainer, Greg Anderson …

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields says steroid testing has helped game improve  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — There has been plenty said, and there will be more today at Yankees camp in Tampa, about the players who used steroids in the past.  —  But Rays starter James Shields …

At long last, Fields signs with Mariners  —  Early Monday afternoon, Josh Fields stood in the parking lot outside Seattle's Peoria Stadium clubhouse, meeting with Mariner general manager Jack Zduriencik and assistant GM Lee Pelekoudas.  —  It looked like a deal had been done …