Gardner wins Yanks' center-field job  —  Speedster beats out Cabrera in Spring Training competition  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees have officially announced that Brett Gardner has won a starting job to open the 2009 season, likely making him the first player to patrol center field at the new Yankee Stadium.

Newhan released by Astros  —  Veteran irked by exclusion from backup-infielder competition  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Astros trimmed two players from their roster Sunday morning when they released infielder David Newhan and reassigned Chad Paronto to Minor League camp.

McGowan Rehab Takes a Hit  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The optimistic view late last July when Dustin McGowan underwent surgery to repair the frayed labrum in his pitching shoulder was that he would be ready to rejoin the 2009 Blue Jay rotation out of training camp.

First Look: Citi Field  —  (Let's try an experiment — follow along with this travelogue at this album on Facebook.  If it doesn't work, holler in the comments and I'll put it on Flickr or something.)  —  The first thing that I saw at Citi Field and the first thing that happened …

Commissioner appoints committee to study Oakland situation  —  After meeting with ownership and management of the Oakland Athletics in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, Commissioner Allan H.  (Bud) Selig announced today that he has appointed a committee to thoroughly analyze all of the ballpark proposals …

Ten things for Monday  —  Ten things for a Monday morning:  —  1. The Cubs' Kevin Gregg/Carlos Marmol closer situation is not set in stone.  “I think it's the right way to start the season and take some pressure off Marmol,” Lou Piniella said Sunday.  “We'll see how it evolves.”

Royals cut infielder Hernandez  —  Shortstop batted .231 (9-for-39) in 14 Cactus League games  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Infielder Luis Hernandez was re-assigned to the Royals' Minor League camp after Sunday's game.  —  Hernandez, a non-roster player, batted .231 (9-for-39) in 14 Cactus League games.

Tigers land outfielder Josh Anderson from Braves  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Tigers filled the outfield vacancy on their bench today by acquiring Josh Anderson from the Atlanta Braves in return for minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow.  —  As explained by general manager Dave Dombrowski …

Arroyo limited by carpal tunnel flare-up  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — No guitar strumming for Bronson Arroyo these days.  No autograph signing, either.  Pitching?  He's still doing that, but the results weren't good the last couple times out.  —  His right hand has become a worry.

Settling for Sub-Replacement  —  It was about a year ago that the Giants, down one Omar Vizquel after the veteran shortstop suffered a knee injury in spring training, opened the season with Brian Bocock in his stead.  He was coming off of a .243/.312/.344 season in 2007, which would be problematic enough …

Reliever Will Ohman tries out for specialist role  —  Veteran is offered a contract, believed to be for $1 million for one season, to be the Dodgers' situational left-hander but the team is still awaiting a decision.  —  Reporting from Phoenix — The Dodgers remain active on the free-agent market …

Projected No. 1 pick Strasburg's $50 million figure and much more … That $50 million figure that's being attached to ballyhooed college pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg is no joke.  Baseball people who have spoken to Strasburg's adviser Scott Boras say they believe that's the figure Boras …

Q.& A.: Yankee Bloggers Tackle the 2009 Season  —  As opening day draws near, The Times will be previewing the Yankees' and Mets' coming seasons from all angles, with analysis from Tyler Kepner, Ben Shpigel, Jack Curry and many others.  But with so much happening this off-season there are a lot of opinions to go around.

O's announcers up and leave  —  FORT LAUDERDALE — This is a bit off topic, but too funny nonetheless:  —  The Orioles' flagship radio team of Joe Angel and Fred Manfra quietly left the stadium here today during a 90-minute rain delay and didn't come back for the final eight innings …

Braves season preview: The outfield  —  As a preview to the upcoming Braves season, AJC staff writer Carroll Rogers breaks down the team by position.  Today, the outfield.  —  Jeff Francoeur can single-handedly turn around the production of the Braves' outfield.

Owens waived by White Sox  —  PHOENIX - Jerry Owens said he was waived Monday by the White Sox, giving Dewayne Wise the starting center field job and leadoff duties.  —  “I can't say my performance was helping me at all,” Owens said.  “Dewayne is a great player and he picked it up the last few weeks.

Updates: Sox-Braves  —  FINAL: BRAVES 4, SOX 3  —  Having blown the win in the ninth, Fernando Cabrera just took the loss in the 10th, allowing an RBI, ground-rule double on the final pitch.  More from the clubhouse a little later.  —  HEADED TO OT (3:49 p.m., END 9, SOX 3, BRAVES 3)