A-Rod's pal, the tainted trainer: Steroid-linked friend is banned by every MLB team  —  Embattled Yankee Alex Rodriguez has had a long relationship with a steroid-linked trainer who's been banned from major league clubhouses, four independent sources told the Daily News.

Zimmerman Avoids Arbitration, Signs One-Year Deal  —  The contract Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman signed late last night didn't satisfy the ultimate goal — a long-term deal — but at least it erased the most immediate fear.  Because of the one-year, $3.325 million agreement …

The color of clutch  —  I hope this is the last time I need to write an article devoted to clutch hitting.  —  The data  —  There have been many attempts to find evidence of clutch hitting.  All of these attempts focus on the same basic principle: compare a player's performance …

CC you in April: Lefty in line for opener  —  TAMPA - CC Sabathia won't make his first start of the spring until the Yankees play their 10th game, but the big lefthander is lined up perfectly to make a much more important start: Opening Day.  —  Sabathia will make his spring debut on March 6 …

Dodgers showing interest in Cabrera  —  Shortstop tells club he would be willing to move to second base  —  PHOENIX — The Dodgers, apparently uncertain they can work a deal for second baseman Orlando Hudson, have also begun talks with free-agent infielder Orlando Cabrera.

Bowden May Wind Up Paying Again  —  The bucks stop on Jim Bowden's desk.  All 1.4 million of them.  —  When that bill comes due, will the Nationals' general manager pay with his job?  —  For the moment, Bowden appears to have been the primary sucker in one of the most embarrassing scams ever used to defraud a baseball team.

Using Z-Scores to Rank Pitchers  —  If you're not a stathead, fantasy geek, or a baseball nerd, then you might want to skip ahead to the rankings of pitchers in the middle and at the bottom of this article.  Or you just may want to skip this article altogether and check out Deadspin …

Willie Mays, Hank Aaron told Ken Griffey Jr. to think legacy … Ken Griffey Jr. will join Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the Hall of Fame one day.  On Wednesday, the two baseball icons and Griffey's 13-year-old daughter played pivotal roles in helping him decide where he would be making the final stop in his illustrious career.

Milledge gives Dunn No. 44, changes to No. 85  —  VIERA, Fla. (AP) — There's a new Ocho Cinco in pro sports: Washington Nationals outfielder Lastings Milledge is switching to No. 85 after relinquishing his career-long No. 44 to new teammate Adam Dunn.  —  Milledge, who wore No. 44 with the Mets …

Manuel takes opposite approach  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Jerry Manuel preached a team-first approach and barely alluded to the Mets' consecutive September collapses when he addressed the players before Thursday's first full-squad workout.  Manuel's reference to past failures, according to the manager …

Manny's agent: ‘A choice of winning or losing’ for Dodgers  —  PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers got together Thursday morning for their first full workout, but when manager Joe Torre addressed the team, there was a vacant locker staring back at him.  —  Manny Ramirez, the man who revitalized …

The Back Fields  —  The pitchers and infielders are working on how to cover a bunt (see below).  They each rotate in on the drill, the coach rolls out the ball, and they act out certain situations.  —  However, I'm not sure how they concentrate with the smell of burgers and dogs wafting in from the grill behind the backstop.

Soriano staying put as leadoff man  —  Cubs slugger may drop down in spring as Piniella tinkers  —  MESA, Ariz. — Alfonso Soriano is back in the Cubs' leadoff spot.  —  Actually, Soriano never left.  On Monday, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he was going to drop Soriano down in the order …