Rays look at Rodriguez as they try to find trade fit  —  There is growing momentum for a trade to transpire between Tampa Bay and the Rockies involving right-hander Jason Hammel.  The Rays heavily scouted the Rockies this past week, keeping a close eye on Double-A starter Aneury Rodriguez.

Red Sox are preseason No. 1  —  The Boston Red Sox finished second in their division and second in the American League in 2008.  But according to ESPN.com's preseason Power Rankings, they are second to none heading into the 2009 season.  —  ESPN.com asked 15 of ESPN's leading baseball experts …

New stadiums a big hit with fans  —  Welcome to the Taj Mahals of baseball.  —  The new Yankee Stadium and the Mets' Citi Field opened their gates for their first games Friday, ushering in a new level of luxury to baseball - and wonder to fans.  —  “It's amazing, I love it,” declared Dan Bastian …

Marlins finalize Opening Day roster  —  After Friday's game, the Marlins optioned right-hander Carlos Martinez to Triple-A New Orleans, reassigned right-hander Brian Sanches to minor league camp and selected the contracts of infielder Andy Gonzalez and right-hander Kiko Calero.

Updates: Red Sox at Mets  —  BETTER DAY FOR YOUK (3:21, TOP 6, 9-1 SOX)  —  He had already had a run-scoring walk and a single in his first two at bats, and Kevin Youkilis finished his afternoon with another single in the sixth.  This one brought two runners home in Jacoby Ellsbury and Nick Green.

Scenes from a Mall  —  It stopped raining by the middle of the afternoon on Friday.  I walked through Central Park to reach the subway at Columbus Circle.  It was damp and warm and the early spring evening light was almost pale white.  I paused to take in the massive Time Warner towers …

Lineups, with Youk back in  —  NEW YORK — Though Kevin Youkilis was ill enough yesterday with “intestinal turmoil,” as manager Terry Francona put it, the first baseman is back in the lineup today.  Francona said Youkilis wanted to get a couple of at bats in today in anticipation of Monday's opener.

Carter spotted opportunity  —  He then earned place as Red Sox' 25th man  —  Chris Carter put in extra work on his fielding during spring training.  (CHARLES KRUPA/Associated Press)  —  NEW YORK - The stories verge on legendary, both for their oddity and their ubiquitousness.

Kearns favored for right field  —  Dukes, Willingham reduced to possible bench roles  —  NORFOLK, Va. — The word went out Friday, and manager Manny Acta knows that it's going to make some Nationals unhappy.  —  That's OK.  —  “You know what?  I'd rather have two or three guys …

DePodesta now reports to Towers  —  Jeff Moorad has restructured the Padres' front office so that executive vice-president Paul DePodesta will report to General Manager Kevin Towers.  —  Both Towers and DePodesta called the result “business as usual,” but each acknowledged that it might clear …

Bondy: Spoils of Victory  —  A pull-down laptop hung Friday above Mariano Rivera's locker, which is no longer in the corner of a small room but now along one side of a ballroom-sized clubhouse.  Rivera was showing off a shoulder scar when he was asked what he thought about all of this …