Lester extension makes good business sense  —  One can make the case that of all the left-handed pitchers under 26, Cole Hamels and Jon Lester would have the most value on the open market.  They are each 25.  Each has pitched World Series-clinching games.  Hamels has the best career ERA …

First players sent to minors  —  The Yankees sent their first players to the minor leagues today.  —  They re-assigned right-handed pitchers J.B. Cox, George Kontos and Kanekoa Texiera to minor league camp, and optioned right-hander Andrew Brackman to Class-A Charleston.

Royals not talking Teahen with Yanks  —  Club official denies rumor of discussions about infielder  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — There seems to be no credence at this point to a rumor that the New York Yankees might be interested in obtaining Mark Teahen from the Royals.

Delgado believes Pudge can help Mets  —  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - An Ivan Rodriguez-to-the-Mets campaign could pick up steam if Pudge continues to have a strong showing in the World Baseball Classic.  —  Rodriguez, teammates with Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran on the Puerto Rico team …

Pirates prospect to miss all of 2009  —  Infielder Cunningham tears the ACL in his left knee Saturday  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Jarek Cunningham, one of the more promising young prospects in the Pirates' Minor League system, will miss the entire 2009 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Saturday.

US routs Venezuela to reach 2nd round of WBC  —  TORONTO (AP) — The World Baseball Classic has been a blast so far for the United States.  —  Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer, Adam Dunn and Ryan Braun added solo shots and the United States powered its way into the second round of the WBC by beating Venezuela 15-6 on Sunday night.

Seems like Yankees are panicking  —  The Yankees are acting as if Alex Rodriguez is Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, the kind of player they can't win without, despite the sorry fact that so far, he has only been the kind of player they can't win with.  —  By announcing that A-Rod will undergo …

PINSTRIPE POSTS  —  From the clubhouse to the diamond, Pete Caldera tells you everything you want to know about the Yankees.  —  Read “Pinstripe Posts”  —  O'Connor: Yankee haunted by brush with death  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Bodies and blood were all over the desert freeway, and somehow Cody Ransom landed on his feet.

Brewers release pitcher Gagne  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Surprise, Ariz. - This hardly qualifies as a surprise (no pun intended with today's game site) but the Milwaukee Brewers just announced they have released reliever Eric Gagne from his minor league contract.

Change from Penny  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - The changes in Brad Penny's delivery - “bad habits,” he said - started last season.  He pitched with pain shooting through his right shoulder, but only with physical concessions.  Penny feared raring back like normal, so he shortened his stride and decreased his arm speed.

Trading-card maker Topps hopes to score on 3D pitch to fans  —  Since the 1950s, Topps has sold baseball trading cards filled with photos and stats, bringing the game to life.  Now the company is bringing its cards to life.  —  Since the 1950s, Topps has sold baseball trading cards filled …

Gomes is Red hot out of the gate  —  Non-roster invitee making roster decisions difficult  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — In his situation, non-roster outfielder Jonny Gomes knew he couldn't afford a slow start to camp with the Reds.  —  Anything but that, in fact.

Madden: On 'roids, Tony still off Mark  —  JUPITER, Fla. - Amid the ongoing steroids furor in baseball, Tony La Russa, who has unhappily been caught up in the middle of it thanks to accusations from his former American League MVP, Jose Canseco, said recently that baseball should have …

Chipper Jones, 36, is still young at heart  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — All his life, Chipper Jones drew inspiration from being the youngest player on his baseball team.  From his days playing youth-league ball to his first several seasons with the Atlanta Braves in the mid-1990s …

Mets' Pelfrey's sore leg feeling ‘a lot better’  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Mike Pelfrey was scratched from today's start against the Orioles because of a muscle strain in his lower left leg, but he shouldn't be sidelined much longer.  —  Pelfrey, whose leg was tightly wrapped from mid-calf …

Rockies recap: Rockies 4, Padres 2  —  Rockies 4, Padres 2  —  At the plate:Eric Young Jr., the pterodactyls in his stomach now butterflies, is playing much more relaxed.  His electrifying speed showed up again Sunday, as he doubled and scored easily on a shallow sacrifice fly to center field.

Ervin Santana to open season on disabled list  —  An MRI exam shows the 26-year-old right-hander has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his elbow, depleting a pitching rotation that was already thin on depth.  —  Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — Ervin Santana has a sprained medial collateral ligament …