Damon could still end up a Brave  —  Atlanta has made offer with hopes of snagging outfielder  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — With the White Sox pulling their initial offer for Johnny Damon's services, it's seemingly time to at least wonder if the veteran outfielder could actually end …

Healthy Renteria determined to rebound  —  Giants shortstop played through pain last season  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Edgar Renteria admitted Friday that he felt “embarrassed” under the scrutiny of Giants fans and the organization as a result of his subpar performance last year.

Matsui, big bat arrive (reporters too)  —  DH, making splash at Angels camp, hopes to play outfield  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Frank Sinatra's ode to New York was ringing in his ears in early November, and while he has a celestial new home with the Angels now, Hideki Matsui hasn't completely left behind …

NY Mets owner Fred Wilpon says offseason was ‘torture’ for him; has no plans to sell the team … Audio: Mets owner Fred Wilpon (clip starts with Wilpon talking about reliever Ryota Igarashi)  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon said Saturday that the offseason was …

Source: Cleveland Indians, first baseman Russell Branyan agree to one-year, $2 million deal  —  First baseman Russell Branyan, who hit 31 homers for the Mariners last season, has decided to sign a one-year, $2 million deal with the Indians, a baseball source said Friday.

Theriot loses arbitration case vs. Cubs  —  MESA, Ariz.— Shortstop Ryan Theriot lost his arbitration hearing with the Cubs on Friday and will be paid $2.6 million in 2010.  —  Theriot filed for $3.4 million, an $800,000 difference that the Cubs felt was too high to negotiate a settlement.

Five coaches who could make a difference  —  Sometimes a team's Most Valuable Player isn't a player  —  In the big leagues, there isn't much of a difference between a September to remember followed by October glory and five months of contention disappearing as quickly as those hot August nights.

Lefty speaks: Sign Josh Beckett  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  FORT MYERS - If Jon Lester [stats] were running the Red Sox [team stats], Josh Beckett [stats] would already have a contract extension.  —  But since Lester merely pitches, the best he can do is offer …

Colorado's Jimenez looks good in first bullpen  —  Ubaldo Jimenez is hoping a couple of minor adjustments will allow him to go deeper into games for the Colorado Rockies.  —  Jimenez threw his first bullpen session of spring training Friday, and pitching coach Bob Apodaca was pleased with what he saw.

Andy Pettitte still has passion for baseball  —  TAMPA, Fla. - This was late November, when the galaxy was perfectly aligned for Andy Pettitte's farewell to baseball.  He'd just pitched the Yankees to a world championship, and now home in Texas, was running through the checklist of reasons to stay there.

Note: Jose Reyes is OK with Batting 3rd  —  Earlier today, Jerry Manuel told reporters he would like to bat Jose Reyes third in the lineup, assuming all the parts fit, and Reyes is comfortable with it.  —  Later, according to SNY, Reyes told reporters:

Swisher hopes to gain from weight loss  —  Yanks outfielder feels stronger after dropping 12 pounds  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Nick Swisher lost 12 pounds this offseason.  Which is good, because the camera supposedly adds 10.  —  The result was a thinner, leaner Swisher making a cameo this winter …

Preliminary Top 50 2010 draft prospects  —  I can't emphasize enough how preliminary this is; the Division I season starts this weekend and most of the prep players on this list have yet to play a game this spring as well.  Spring performances, health issues and late bloomers …