Mets 7, Pirates 0  —  PITTSBURGH — Carlos Beltran likely won't be with the Mets next season, but that doesn't mean he's without an opinion on how the organization should proceed.  —  The veteran outfielder takes one look around, and has a difficult time envisioning anyone …

How Would Realignment Affect Playoff Races?  —  Over the weekend Buster Olney reported that Major League Baseball and the players' union discussed a possible plan for realignment.  The plan would move the Houston Astros, or possibly the Florida Marlins, to the AL so that both leagues would have 15 teams …

Witness implicates Hernandez  —  The link surfaced during testimony from Miguel Antonio Montes Nieves on March 30 during Ayala-Vazquez's trial in San Juan.  Known as “Tony Montana” after Al Pacino's character in “Scarface,” Montes pleaded guilty to mailing cocaine from Florida to Puerto Rico in an unrelated case.

New York Mets appeal to MLB on Andrew McCutchen hit as error, could benefit R.A. Dickey's ERA  —  PITTSBURGH - The Mets contacted Major League Baseball's central offices in Manhattan after Saturday's game, requesting a review of Andrew McCutchen's third-inning “hit” in a 3-2 loss to the Pirates, a league source told the Daily News.

Source: Dodgers owe Manny $8.33M by June 30  —  The cash-strapped Los Angeles Dodgers must pay Manny Ramirez $8.33 million by June 30, a source said on Monday.  —  The polarizing slugger is due the deferred money from the $42 million contract he signed with Los Angeles before the 2009 season.

Unlikely All-Star candidates and more  —  Every year you see 'em - players who come seemingly out of nowhere to become All-Stars.  —  Many play for low-profile clubs.  Some disappear in the second half.  But the unlikely All-Stars, no matter how fluky, always make for great stories.

Lenny Dykstra pleads not guilty  —  LOS ANGELES — Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Lenny Dykstra pleaded not guilty Monday in a federal case where he's accused of embezzling money from a bankruptcy estate.  —  An out-of-sorts Dykstra appeared in a Los Angeles federal courtroom …

Source: Pirates acquire catcher McKenry  —  The Pirates have acquired catcher Mike McKenry in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, according to a source a few minutes ago.  This has not been fully confirmed, and I don't have any other information at the moment.  —  McKenry, 26, has played six games in the majors.

Hey, Bud!  PleA'se Stop the TeA'se!  —  Help, I'm stepping into the Twilight Zone  —  This is a madhouse, feels like being cloned  —  My beacon's been moved under moon and star  —  Where am I to go now that I've gone too far?  —  Feet, meet fire.  —  Today is simple: I come bearing a mission with which we can all get onboard.

Tucson Padres: Guzman putting up Rizzo-like numbers  —  While he hit .365 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs for the Tucson Padres, Anthony Rizzo garnered most of the attention from fans and the media.  —  But one of his former Triple-A teammates is also producing an impressive offensive season.

Nationals have improved their defense, just like they planned  —  This offseason, Mike Rizzo came up short in some aims while seemingly disregarding other needs.  The Nationals, after a few near-misses, could not land the frontline starter they hoped for (and that, it turns out …