Mets thump Phillies behind Takahashi  —  Japanese lefty tosses six scoreless; Reyes homers in win  —  NEW YORK — Three days before Christmas, with the offseason still young, the Mets quietly signed 35-year-old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to a Minor League contract.  Few took notice.

Red Sox sweep away Rays  —  Finish tough stretch with easy victory  —  THE BIG PICTURE  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If this was supposed to be a test - 19 games, 11 on the road, against a half-dozen teams with winning records, including three division leaders - then the Red Sox [team stats] aced it.

Ozzie vs. Joe West  —  CLEVELAND - Here is Ozzie's side:  —  “Because he's a f—ing a—hole, that's what he is.  I just went out to ask him ... I wasn't asking about the balk because you're not allowed, anytime you go out there to ask about balk or whatever.

Zaun has labrum injury, no surgery for now  —  Brewers catcher Gregg Zaun has a torn labrum in the front of his right shoulder and said he might retire if the injury lingers deep into the summer.  —  Zaun put his chances of playing this season at “50-50.”  The doctors have recommended …

Strasburg's debut could come against Bucs  —  June 8-10 series tentatively planned for phenom's first start  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Nationals are tentatively planning to have right-hander Stephen Strasburg make his Major League debut against the Pirates at Nationals Park in June, according to a team source.

Rivera gets two saves as Yankees sweep Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ten days ago, the Minnesota Twins used a grand slam to fuel a rare victory over Mariano Rivera and their long-running American League nemesis, the New York Yankees .  —  How's this for a response?

Efficient Ubaldo earns ninth victory  —  Jimenez thrives for eight shutout innings without best stuff  —  DENVER — A hint of a proud swagger entered Ubaldo Jimenez's stride near the Rockies' dugout as he took in a standing ovation at the end of the eighth inning.

Source: Yankees bring back Gaudin … redfish  —  Oh joy!  0-2 with an 8.83 ERA in 12 appearances in the powerhouse AL West before being released.  Can he play the outfield?  So we lose a very good pitcher and replace him with a very bad pitcher.  Brian logic.

Luke Hochevar goes 8 innings as Royals top Rangers 5-2  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Billy Butler homered and Luke Hochevar pitched eight strong innings to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.  —  Butler went 2 for 3 to raise his average to .348, second in the American League.

ABREU DRIVES IN WINNER IN NINTH AS ANGELS EDGE BLUE JAYS  —  The Sports Network  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bobby Abreu hit an opposite-field RBI single with two out in the ninth inning, atoning for an error that led to the tying run in the top half, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 Wednesday.