Boston's moves could pay big dividends  —  Signings of Smoltz, Penny, Baldelli and Saito fill needs without breaking bank  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — One team tried to solve its problems with $423 million worth of free agents.  The other team brought in a bunch of guys who spent about 423 million days in the trainer's room.

Brian Cashman says New York Yankees not actively seeking fill-in for Alex Rodriguez  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez will remain in Colorado until he's ready to resume baseball activities, general manager Brian Cashman said, though he does not know when the slugger will reach that point.

Strong start a ‘sigh of relief’ for Joba  —  Correction of mechanical flaw returns young righty to past form  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The final spot in the Yankees' starting rotation remains Joba Chamberlain's to lose, and a strong performance against the Reds on Tuesday displayed the progress that the organization wanted to see.

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.

Sox re-sign 19  —  The Red Sox agreed to terms with 19 players on one-year contracts this afternoon — including lefthander Jon Lester.  —  But no worries, Sox fans.  The signing today was more or less a formality and doesn't impact the long-term contract Lester is reportedly on the verge of signing.

Fidel Castro's Reflection on Second Baseball Classic  —  Reflections by Comrade Fidel  —  I am trying to follow the events of the Baseball Classic, thanks to our national television services.  —  The game between the teams from Japan and South Korea, Cuba's strongest opponents, took place on Monday March 9.

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.

Amezaga returns to South Florida from Mexico's team in WBC with stiffness in knee  —  JUPITER — Marlins utility player Alfredo Amezaga returned to South Florida from the World Baseball Classic on Monday after experiencing stiffness in his left knee.  —  Amezaga is expected to be evaluated by team doctors Tuesday.

Moose pays Yankees a visit  —  Recently retired righty has no regrets over calling it a career  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Mike Mussina made the familiar drive to George M. Steinbrenner Field, and the security guards waved him right into Derek Jeter's parking space.  270 wins do a lot to open the gates.

Still No Score  —  With the game scoreless in the top of the seventh, Hanley Ramirez just misses a two-run homer.  Twice he's hit the ball deep but just short of the wall for outs.  Ortiz is up with two out and a man on first.  —  Update: Ortiz falls behind 0-2, works the count back to 3-2 …

Wolfe leaves outing after hearing ‘pop’  —  Hurler pulls self from game with right shoulder pain, set to visit doctor  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Brian Wolfe's chances of grabbing one of the Blue Jays' vacant bullpen jobs were dealt an unfortunate blow Tuesday.

THE SPORTS GUY  —  You don't need stats to know greatness.  Meryl taught me that.  —  Next time you're hanging out with friends, ask them this: “Who is the greatest living actor?”  The question will temporarily paralyze them, as if they'd been Tasered.  Everyone watches movies, so the answer should be obvious, right?

New A.G. sitting out Clemens' steroid probe  —  Attorney General Eric Holder is recused from legal matters involving Roger Clemens, presumably because of the potential conflict-of-interest in Holder's law firm having worked for Clemens during last year's congressional probe into steroids and baseball.