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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Harper: Gardner's on center stage  —  TAMPA - The snickering is beginning to subside already.  Maybe the idea of Brett Gardner as the Yankees' everyday center fielder is not so crazy, after all.  —  Actually, the way he's going, maybe Gardner will hit cleanup during Alex Rodriguez's absence.

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.

Sheets rehabbing with Rangers doctor  —  Texas GM says ‘no connection’ between pitcher's work and team  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers might not be done with Ben Sheets.  —  Sheets, who is recovering from surgery on his right elbow, is doing his rehabilitation work at TMI Sports Medicine in Arlington …

Final: Orioles 5, Red Sox 1  —  DONE AND DONE (3:40, END 9, 5-1 Orioles)  —  It's all over, folks.  The Red Sox fell to the Orioles this afternoon by a 5-1 score, with most of the damage done against Felix Doubront and Kris Johnson.  On an unrelated note, the Sox reassigned two more players …

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 …

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.

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.

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.