Trainer for Washington Nationals prospect blames MLB for error  —  The trainer for a top Washington Nationals prospect who faked his age and name denied any knowledge of the player's deception and blamed Major League Baseball's investigative office in the Dominican Republic for failing to catch the scheme.

Girardi taking more personal approach  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Months before his star player admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, Joe Girardi knew he had to change his approach to remain the manager of the Yankees beyond this season.  The controversy surrounding Alex Rodriguez only served to underscore that point in his mind.

Tampa Bay Rays go high-tech with advance scouting  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays learned a lot during their first trip through the postseason.  —  And among the ideas is to switch from having a traditional advance scout on the road watching their next opponent in person, as most teams still do …

Redding suffers early setback  —  Mets righty rushes throwing program, hurts pitching shoulder  —  PORT ST LUCIE, Fla. — Tim Redding and his wife spent last Thanksgiving alone in a Baltimore hotel room, waiting for the holiday to pass.  There was little time for celebration …

SERBY'S SUNDAY Q & A WITH... SABATHIA C.C.  —  The Post's Steve Serby chatted with the Yankees' ace lefty who is beginning his seven-year, $161 million contract.  —  Q: What did you weigh at birth?  —  A: Eight pounds, six ounces.  —  Q: Heaviest you've ever been?  —  A: 315.

Harper: Pettitte has motivation to pitch for himself  —  TAMPA - When all the haggling was finally done this winter, Andy Pettitte turned down $10 million and wound up signing for $5.5 million with incentives, which is the kind of deal you think would get an agent fired in most cases.

Dellucci's ‘alligator’, Guillen's nail kick off weird spring injuries  —  Spring training is only a week old, but we already have strong two entries for baseball's weirdest injury of the year.  —  Well, kind of.  —  Cleveland outfielder David Dellucci, our first contestant …

Roberts still in the trade zone  —  Orioles say they have no such plan, but his contract would allow it  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - When Brian Roberts signed the four-year, $40million contract extension that ties him to the Orioles through the 2013 season, he did so without getting significant …

Securities case reaches O's prospects  —  Wieters, Arrieta assured their investments safe in scandal  —  peter.schmuck@baltsun.com and jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The massive securities scandal involving the Stanford Financial Group has left New York Yankees veterans Johnny Damon …

Rangers sign RHP Kris Benson to Minor League contract  —  Veteran has received non-roster invitation to Major League spring training  —  Surprise, Ariz. - The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has signed right-handed pitcher Kris Benson to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.

D-backs work on avoiding strikeouts  —  Extra time devoted to two-strike approach after record 2008  —  TUCSON — Too often, the '08 D-backs had the bats taken out of their hands at the most critical times.  —  Their 1,287 strikeouts set a club record, and reducing that number …

DH duty is Seattle's lure to Griffey  —  If Ken Griffey Jr. had played the outfield better while with the White Sox, his decision to sign in Seattle, not Atlanta, would have been a real puzzler.  The chance to serve as a designated hitter, if necessary, made the Mariners a better option …