Mets release Sanchez  —  Right-handed reliever never the same after 2006 accident  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Convinced that Duaner Sanchez would not regain the form he had in 2006, the Mets released the 29-year-old right-handed relief pitcher on Tuesday morning.

STRANGE LOVE: YANKS, SAWX FORM BOND  —  TORONTO - Love is in the air between the Yankees and Red Sox.  —  Maybe “love” is a little strong, but Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis don't mind saying they have formed a bond with Derek Jeter as members of Team USA for the World Baseball Classic.

Pettitte pain-free in Grapefruit debut … TAMPA - For the first time since the middle of last season, Andy Pettitte threw a pitch without pain.  —  Granted, none of his 31 throws counted toward the Yankees' goal of a ticket back to October, but a healthy Pettitte figures to be a key component …

And then there were cuts...  FORT MYERS, Fla. — All you Argenis Diaz fans out there will now have to travel to the player development complex to see the shortstop.  Pitcher Charlie Zink and catcher Carlos Maldonado have been reassigned to the minor league complex, and Diaz was optioned to Portland.

Tampa Bay Rays, Scott Kazmir disagree on why slider failed him, agree that he needs it back  —  Rays starting pitcher Scott Kazmir says he didn't lose his feel for his slider last year.  Instead, the left-hander said, he had trouble extending his arm, which caused him to throw his slider less often.

After Italy's Upset, Piazza Praises Yanks' Cervelli  —  TORONTO - If the Yankees are worried about Jorge Posada's shoulder, there's a pretty stellar catcher in the minors.  He is not a top prospect like Jesus Montero, and not an experienced major league back-up like Jose Molina and Kevin Cash.

Sizing up the spring  —  Just another thought on A-Rod  —  When I went down to the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic team practice before A-Rod opted to shut it down for the tournament and have hip surgery, I got to talk to him a little bit.  He came right up to me and said …

Second-half stars look to remain hot  —  After breaking out in '08, new names aim for continued success  —  It's how you finish that can sometimes help you start.  —  That's what a large number of second-half success stories from 2008 are finding out less than a month before the 2009 Major League Baseball regular season begins.

Cubs' Vizcaino in jeopardy of losing his spot in bullpen  —  Stiff competition may kick supposed locks to the curb  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs' biggest question mark heading into the season is the bullpen, which was overhauled over the winter with the departures of Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Michael Wuertz.

Andruw Jones regrets failing the Dodgers  —  Outfielder, now trying to catch on with the Texas Rangers, says he's sorry he 'didn't stand up to my reputation' last season in L.A.  —  “Are you saying you're sorry?”  —  I'm standing in a spacious Texas Rangers clubhouse, on a gorgeous spring morning …

Minaya: Pagan debating surgery  —  VIERA, Fla. — Angel Pagan is still mulling over surgery to repair the bone spur in his right elbow, GM Omar Minaya said today.  If Pagan opts for surgery, which appears likely, he would miss just 6-to-8 weeks and not the entire season.

Kearns, Eckstein, and Adjustments  —  So I have — in the past, by my fellow scribes - been accused of being the president of the Austin Kearns Apologists Club.  It's a nice club over which to preside, because I'm the only one who wants to go to the meetings, and therefore I don't have to consult with anyone else about times or places.

Are the Yankees a Tarnished Brand?  —  tarnished?  —  The 2008 postseason was the first since 1993 (1994 excluded due to the obvious) not to include the New York Yankees.  The 2009 Yankee season offered much promise, however.  A number of expensive contracts had terminated (Giambi, Abreu …

Entering the mix  —  JUPITER, Fla. — With their first pick of what the Cardinals billed as their transformative and revitalizing draft, they planned to select an athletic shortstop from Georgia Tech named Tyler Greene.  —  As the 28th pick of the 2005 draft approached, however …