Marte designated as Tribe trades for Salas  —  Well, you knew the Andy Marte Era would come to an end sooner or later here in camp, and it didn't take long.  —  The Indians traded for RHP Juan Salas today, sending Minor League INF Isaias Velasquez to the Rays.  —  Salas, 30, was designated for assignment by the Rays on Friday.

Rockies' pitcher Francis likely out for year  —  TUCSON — Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis expects his season to be over before it starts.  Francis will undergo exploratory surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday in Denver, he said here today.  —  The surgery is expected to sideline him between 6-12 months …

Orioles, Roberts closing in on 4-year extension  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Brian Roberts and the Baltimore Orioles are near agreement on a $40 million, four-year extension that could keep the second baseman with the team through the 2013 season.  —  Roberts tried to contain …

Hank rebukes talk of salary cap  —  Yankees co-chairman responds to Boston's suggestion of payroll limit  —  Hank Steinbrenner isn't so keen on a salary cap.  —  Not long after Red Sox owner John Henry and club president Larry Lucchino said on Wednesday that Major League Baseball …

Alex Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart, would do anything for him … As far back as anyone can remember, Yuri Sucart was always by Alex Rodriguez's side.  —  Sucart would tell anyone who would listen he was Rodriguez's cousin.  But he was also Rodriguez's best friend, confidant and personal protector.

Sources: New York Yanks, San Diego Padres vie for Mexican pitcher  —  The Yankees and Padres continue to search for pitching depth, even with spring training under way, and both are in the bidding for Walter Silva, a 32-year-old right-hander who had a strong showing in the Mexican Winter League, sources said.

George Steinbrenner, Bernie Williams appear at New York Yankees spring training  —  TAMPA, Fla. — A pair of familiar faces appeared Thursday at the New York Yankees' spring training camp for the first time this year: owner George Steinbrenner and outfielder Bernie Williams.

Utley optimistic about Opening Day  —  Phillies star feeling no pain in surgically repaired right hip  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Chase Utley looks around the Bright House Field clubhouse, sees players like Ryan Howard and Brett Myers at least 20 pounds lighter than last season and considers it a good sign.

Signing Griffey a shortsighted move by Mariners  —  The Mariners' agreement with Ken Griffey Jr. is a nostalgia signing that does very little to push the franchise forward and carries some risk of retarding their recovery from five years of mismanagement by the previous baseball regime.

Baseball's Place Under the New Media Sun  —  The mainstream media really seems to think that the sports business is in trouble.  Check out this piece of doom-casting from the Wall Street Journal: … That's a pretty bold statement, considering how healthy the major sports leagues …

Baseball battles the slump  —  In one of the hardest-hit parts of the country, the Arizona Diamondbacks are emerging as a case study of how to keep sports fans loyal during the recession ($1.50 hot dogs, anyone?).  —  (Fortune Magazine) — Calling Arizona Diamondbacks season ticket holder Jackie Smiley …

Francoeur, Braves avoid arbitration  —  Outfielder now can focus on Spring Training, upcoming season  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jeff Francoeur won't need to board his scheduled flight on Thursday morning.  Nor will he have to experience the arbitration hearing that had seemed destined to take place.

Now with Angels, Abreu happy Phillies won World Series  —  TEMPE, Ariz. - On the night the Phillies won the World Series, he sat in his apartment high above the streets of New York, eyes fixed on the high-definition screen.  He'd been waiting for this moment for a long time.  —  “I was rooting for them.

Cancer scare changes Davis for better  —  A year later, D-backs lefty can put life, baseball in perspective  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Doug Davis does not enjoy talking about himself and he most definitely would rather not discuss his emotions.  —  Yet, even Davis admits that things are different …