Figueroa plans to turn down trip to minors  —  ST. LOUIS - Nelson Figueroa plans to refuse an assignment to Triple-A Buffalo and declare free agency, ending the Brooklyn-born journeyman's tenure with the Mets, a source told the Daily News.  Figueroa, 34, had cleared waivers Wednesday …

Identity crisis for newcomer O'Day  —  Rangers righty wears Gabbard jersey after joining team  —  TORONTO — To say Darren O'Day's Wednesday was a whirlwind of a day would be a massive understatement.  —  The right-handed reliever began the day looking for work, and by the end of it …

BIG PAPI TO JOBA: DON'T THROW AT US  —  BOSTON — If young Joba Chamberlain misbehaves tomorrow night, he might face a spanking from someone else's Papi.  —  With Chamberlain scheduled to start for the Yankees in the opener of a three-game series against the Red Sox, David Ortiz yesterday …

Carter: Interest in Mets job was a ‘mistake’  —  Gary Carter received a lot of criticism for expressing his interest in the Mets managerial job last season when Willie Randolph still held the position.  Almost a year later, Carter realizes he made a mistake.

Baseball's Most Valuable Teams  —  New stadiums pushed up team values overall, but one-third of the league saw values drop over the past year.  —  The aggregate results of Forbes' 12th annual take on the finances of Major League Baseball show the National Pastime has never been stronger.

Dave Roberts stole his way into Red Sox history  —  Dave Roberts played in the Major Leagues for nine seasons but his “moment” came in 2004.  —  He stole the base in the ALCS against the Yankees' Mariano Rivera that led to Boston's come-from-behind win when they were down 3-0 in the series.

Too Little, Maybe Too Late  —  Capitals Fall Behind 3-1 to Rangers Despite Ovechkin's Third-Period Goal  —  The Washington Capitals haven't advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since their memorable run to the Stanley Cup finals in 1998.  —  Now they find themselves on the verge of another first-round disappointment.

Three reasons Mets remain playoff long shots  —  Perez, Murphy and Castillo all must perform for New York to succeed  —  Oliver Perez, who signed a three-year, $36 million contract this past offseason, continues to struggle with consistency.  —  ST. LOUIS - Watch the New York Mets for one game, and the similarity is striking.

Dykstra's business: a bed of ‘Nails’  —  His new world: ‘Nails’ is trying to create a high-finance lifestyle for the rich and famous.  —  CAMARILLO, Calif. — He's slumped behind a desk, looking frumpy in a sweater vest and tan cap.  Tonight, he is living the life of an entrepreneur …

BLS poll: Which surprise team is off to the most legit start?  —  We're only a little over two weeks into the season and the measured warnings about sample size are still rightfully being sounded around the baseball community.  —  However, that doesn't mean we can't conduct a little [straw] …

Cabrera's HR ends first Yankee Stadium homestand  —  NEW YORK - Melky Cabrera ended a home run-filled opening homestand at the new Yankee Stadium with a two-run drive in the 14th inning Wednesday to give New York a 9-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics.  —  The Yankees overcame another shaky outing …

Figgy clears waivers  —  Nelson Figueroa has cleared waivers, allowing him to return to Triple-A Buffalo.  He had a credible outing Sunday against the Brewers as a spot starter for Mike Pelfrey, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings, but was designated for assignment …