Ivan Rodriguez agrees to one-year, $1.5 million contract with Houston Astros  —  Catcher Ivan Rodriguez has agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Houston Astros.  —  The deal is contingent on Rodriguez taking a physical, the catcher said in an interview Monday on ESPN …

Hamels Has Elbow Soreness, Flying to Philadelphia  —  Cole Hamels has soreness in his left elbow and is flying to Philadelphia tonight to be examined tomorrow by team physician Michael Ciccotti.  —  “We do not think it is serious, at least at this time” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

Minor injuries for New York Yankees' Robinson Cano and Damaso Marte  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and reliever Damaso Marte underwent magnetic resonance imaging exams on their injured throwing shoulders on Monday.  The exam showed Cano has bursitis in his right shoulder …

Some Thoughts On (And From) Lastings Milledge  —  You can read the paper version of my Milledge-Dukes story here.  The DMTP stuff on this one — especially w/r/t to Milledge — is expansive, so maybe that's a timely fit for all the Milledge-related debate we've seen here in the last day(s).

Dustin Pedroia only has ab strain  —  Small muddle in middle  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  FORT MYERS - It could have been much, much worse for Dustin Pedroia [stats].  —  The Red Sox [team stats] feel they dodged a bullet with their second baseman …

ROTATION CLOSE AS FIVE YANKS-KETEERS  —  TAMPA - Andy Pettitte warmed up early yesterday afternoon and - as has been the case all spring when the Yankees are at home - he was not alone.  —  On a suggestion from A.J. Burnett before a Feb. 28 game at Steinbrenner Field, the members …

Team USA eliminates punchless Dutch 9-3  —  MIAMI GARDENS - The Dutch were prepared to go out with a fight — literally.  —  Trailing the United States 8-1 in the top of eighth of Sunday's World Baseball Classic elimination game, the Netherlands got its first homer of the tournament.

Pedro's most likely landing spot, Manny's next contract and more … JUPITER, Fla. — While the Dodgers may be the most likely landing spot for Cooperstown-bound pitcher Pedro Martinez, the Mets can't quite be ruled out yet.  And though one Mets person said a significant gap remains between …

Marlins return Kroenke to Yankees  —  The Marlins did not strike Rule 5 gold again as they opted to return left-hander Zach Kroenke to the Yankees this morning.  —  Kroenke totaled one inning over two Grapefruit League appearances, including one disastrous outing in which he failed to retire any of the seven batters he faced.

Newly signed Braves left-hander serves as paragon for Honduras  —  Batting Around is a series that provides an inside look at Minor League prospects' personalities, quirks and hidden talents as well as their baseball lives via question-and-answer format.  —  During the current World Baseball …

Ailing hammy to cost Manny Ramirez of Los Angeles Dodgers at least a week  —  PHOENIX — Manny Ramirez's hamstring injury will keep him out of spring training games for at least a week.  —  Ramirez  —  “We're just going to lay low till we get rid of this,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Monday.

Offseason In Review: Texas Rangers  —  By Tim Dierkes [March 16 at 3:34pm CST]  —  Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Rangers.  Here's what we wrote about them on September 23rd.  Changes for 2009:  —  Additions: Hank Blalock (exercised option), Omar Vizquel, Andruw Jones …

Gary Matthews Jr. wants more playing time with the Angels  —  'My goal is to play every day. . . . I don't intend to sit around and play a couple times a week like last year,' the outfielder says.  —  Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. — Gary Matthews Jr., who ranks no higher than fifth …

Hoffpauir among 25; Lou stumps for a 26th  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Cubs manager Lou Piniella made a plea Sunday that is certain to fall on deaf ears.  —  “I was telling our general manager the other day, ‘We need a 26-man roster.  Then we would be covered in all areas,”’ Piniella said.  “He started to laugh.