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.

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 …

Spring Game 13: Blue Jays at Yankees (includes A-Rod surgery update)  —  YANKEES  —  Pitching today: Andy Pettitte followed by Ian Kennedy, Dan Giese, Dave Robertson, Jose Veras and Jon Albaladejo.  —  BLUE JAYS  —  Adams LF  —  Hill 2B  —  Lind DH  —  Overbay 1B  —  Lane CF  —  Snider RF

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 …

Blalock a healthy gamble for Texas Rangers  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - A torn left hamstring.  Carpal tunnel release surgery.  Thoracic outlet syndrome.  —  And, on the flip side, career highs in on-base and slugging percentage.  —  The last two years have been the strangest of Hank Blalock's Rangers career.

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.

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.

Franklin is in the mix to be St. Louis Cardinals closer  —  JUPITER, FLA. — Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Sunday officially placed righthander Ryan Franklin squarely “in the mix” for the team's closing vacancy, insisting that in many ways Franklin is the more qualified to take on the job …

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 …

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.

Is Strasburg the best prospect ever?  —  So just how good is Stephen Strasburg, the San Diego State right-hander who is regarded as the No. 1 talent in this year's draft?  —  “The best I've ever seen,” says a longtime scout.  “And it's not even close.”  —  C'mon. Better than Mark Prior?

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.

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.

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.

Lowell set to play tomorrow  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — With his name scheduled to be written into the lineup tomorrow against the Orioles here at City of Palms Park, Mike Lowell is more than ready.  “Yeah, absolutely,” he said when asked if tomorrow would be a big day for him.