Perez's World of trouble … PORT ST. LUCIE - When is it no longer too soon to worry about Oliver Perez?  —  The answer to that $36 million question was provided Wednesday, when Jerry Manuel acknowledged he needs “to pay close attention” in the next several days to Perez, who also was deemed …

Phillies shopping catcher Paulino  —  Coste likely to serve as backup at position for Ruiz  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — It looks more and more like Chris Coste will be Carlos Ruiz's backup this season.  —  Baseball sources said Wednesday the Phillies are letting teams know that catcher Ronny Paulino …

Yanks remain open to trading Melky  —  Gardner's success in center gives club options with 2008 center fielder  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees are telling clubs that they remain open to trading Melky Cabrera before the beginning of the regular season, according a report published Wednesday by FOXSports.com.

Hunter leaves game after freak play  —  Angels center fielder expected to miss next contest  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Torii Hunter, ringleader and lightning rod of the Angels' clubhouse, missed all the fun on Tuesday.  —  While his team was putting an 18-11 hurting on the Rockies' pitching staff …

Remembering Arthur Richman, 83, a Baseball Lifer  —  Arthur Richman had a distinctive way of saying hello to me and to others.  He never really said hello.  He asked how you were doing, then asked if you needed any money.  He must have asked me that a thousand times.

Brewers release veteran Nixon  —  Outfielder hit .105 in 20 spring games; Crew also options Gamel  —  PHOENIX — The Brewers released veteran outfielder Trot Nixon on Wednesday in their latest round of roster cuts.  —  In other moves, the team optioned third baseman Mat Gamel …

Rangers owner Hicks seeking investors  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Rangers owner Tom Hicks is attempting to sell a minority share of up to 49 percent of the ballclub he purchased in 1998, he said on Tuesday at the team's Spring Training complex.  —  Merrill Lynch, the international investment banking firm …

Milton Bradley sure Chicago Cubs are top contenders  —  New Cub calls himself ‘a winner,’ predicts postseason appearance  —  MESA, Ariz. — Predictions are starting to emerge as the season draws near, and it's no surprise most prognosticators are picking the Cubs to win the NL Central.

Big Apple still loves the Yankees best - except in Queens, poll finds  —  New York City is still a Yankee town, a new poll found Wednesday, less than two weeks before Opening Day.  —  Among the New Yorkers who expressed interest in big-league baseball, more than half - 56% …

Former Yankee Bernie Williams jams with Springsteen, annoys Derek Jeter  —  With April 14's Moving Forward, former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams returns to his second great passion: jazz guitar.  The classically trained instrumentalist called the Music Mix today to chat about his new album …

Grading three contemporaries: Boggs, Gwynn, and Ripken  —  With the success (as judged by my immediate family) of my last article picking apart the differences in career value of three Hall-worthy catchers, I thought I'd stick with that approach, this time highlighting the careers of three superstars …

Beltran goes to bat for kids from home  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Carlos Beltran always told himself he would build a high school in his native Puerto Rico once he became established as a major leaguer.  That ambition is set to open in the fall of 2010.  —  Using donated land that includes …

WHITE SOX IN BRIEF: Danks betting on Danks  —  Lefty turns down same $15M deal Sox gave Floyd  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — The first thought in John Danks' head when he heard four years, $15.5million was “Heck, yeah.”  —  When it came time to sign the contract extension, however, it was “Heck, no.”

Please help John's family  —  THT and the baseball community lost a dear friend and writer this week when John Brattain passed away.  But, of course, his wife and two teenage daughters feel the loss much more keenly.  THT has started a donation drive to help them.

Carter, Palmeiro lead College Baseball Hall of Fame class  —  LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Former World Series star Joe Carter of Wichita State and Mississippi State's Rafael Palmeiro, who hit 569 home runs in the major leagues, are among 10 inductees into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.