Gary Sheffield released by Detroit Tigers  —  DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have released nine-time All-Star Gary Sheffield, who is one home run away from 500 for his career.  —  Detroit parted ways with the designated hitter Tuesday after a disappointing stay with the Tigers.

Spring Game 34: Yankees at Reds (now updated with roster moves)  —  YANKEES  —  Pitching today: Joba Chamberlain.  —  REDS  —  Tavares CF  —  Dickerson LF  —  Votto 1B  —  Phillips 2B  —  Bruce RF  —  Hernandez C  —  Encarnacion 3B  —  Janish SS  —  Owings RHP

Phillies release Jenkins; eye Sheff?  —  With less than a week until Opening Day, the Phillies released veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins on Tuesday.  —  The left-handed-hitting Jenkins hit .250 in 11 Grapefruit League games, with one homer and five RBIs.  Last season, his lone campaign …

TRUE BREW FANS  —  BLEACHERS ARE AGAIN BEER-ABLE  —  The raucous fans who populate Yankee Stadium's bleachers should return to form this season, now that the team has lifted its nine-year prohibition on performance-enhancing suds.  —  Beer was banned in Section 39 at the old Stadium in 2000 …

Signs point to Green, Carter  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Barring any unforeseen developments, it appears infielder Nick Green and first baseman/outfielder Chris Carter have secured the final two spots on the Red Sox' 25-man roster.  —  Club officials told Green and Carter that their chances …

How Citi Field will play still in question  —  Players need to adapt to differences between new home and Shea  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Nick Evans will tell you it was a fluke.  He's just being modest.  Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, for one, thought differently …

Royals option Hochevar to Triple-A  —  Ponson, Bannister, Ramirez in mix for final rotation slots  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Right-hander Luke Hochevar, one of the prime candidates for the last two spots in the Royals' rotation, was optioned on Tuesday to Triple-A Omaha.

An Opening Day preview?  —  The Red Sox are getting ready to face the Tampa Bay Rays, the team they'll face next Monday in Game 1, but the above title refers as much to today's lineup as the opponent.  This is probably the lineup the Red Sox will go with to start the year, starter Clay Buchholz aside.

Anderson, O'Day survive cuts  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Pinch-hitting specialist Marlon Anderson and Rule 5 reliever Darren O'Day survived the Mets' final roster cuts today, according to GM Omar Minaya.  —  The Mets kept O'Day over Fernando Nieve and Elmer Dessens for the final bullpen spot instead …

Garland happy, but questions offer  —  TUCSON - As a free agent this winter, Jon Garland said he always had the Diamondbacks, and the National League West, in mind.  He just didn't expect his off-season to transpire the way it did.  —  Not that Garland is complaining.

LACK OF VELOCITY STILL JOBA ISSUE  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — You were seduced by Joba Chamberlain's 100 mph fastball when he introduced himself in 2007 as the premier set-up man in baseball.  —  The Yankees right-hander blew away the best hitters in the majors, and made them look ill against a slider with fangs.

FOX FANTASY BASEBALL GAME:  —  ADVICE:

A-Rod ramps up his workouts  —  Slugger on target for a May return to Yankees' lineup  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez has ramped up his rehab program as he comes back from right hip surgery, and the Yankees continue to believe that the All-Star third baseman will rejoin their lineup sometime in May.