NY Mets, Daniel Murphy will embrace underdog role next season after losing Jose Reyes to Miami Marlins and cutting payroll by $50 million  —  Murphy puts in OT during offseason after having injuries last two seasons  —  Daniel Murphy, who is coming off an injury last season …

Is Edwin Jackson about to make a decision?  —  Lots of buzz out there about the possibility that free-agent righty Edwin Jackson may accept a one-year deal with a contender to improve his value and go back into the free-agent market next season.  —  Right now it doesn't look like Boston,

Blue Jays brass talks playoffs  —  TORONTO— From Tuesday's Globe and Mail  —  You think Paul Beeston was dreaming when he talked Monday about getting grass to grow at a baseball-specific Rogers Centre?  —  That's nothing.  It turns out he envisions the Toronto Blue Jays in the playoffs two or three times in the next five years.

Source: Yankees hire Jim Hendry  —  Former Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has been hired by the New York Yankees as a special assistant to GM Brian Cashman, according to a major league source.  —  Hendry, who was the Cubs GM from 2002 to 2011, was let go by chairman Tom Ricketts after two straight fifth-place finishes.

Baseball: Matsuzaka throws 1st bullpen session since injury  —  FORT MYERS, Florida (Kyodo) — Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka on Monday threw his first bullpen session since undergoing season-ending elbow surgery last June.  —  In the team's spring training complex in Florida …

Indians Acquire Russ Canzler  —  The Indians announced that they acquired Russ Canzler from the Rays for cash considerations.  The Rays had designated the 25-year-old for assignment on Friday.  —  Canzler made his MLB debut in 2011, appearing in three games with the Rays as a September callup.

Chipper Jones upbeat about 18th season with Braves  —  One year has made a big difference in Chipper Jones' outlook.  —  Jones is feeling optimistic about his health as he moves closer to his 18th season with the Braves.  Despite two knee surgeries in the last two years …

Astros invite Livan to Spring Training  —  HOUSTON — The Astros added more pitching depth Tuesday by reaching an agreement on a Minor League contract with right-hander Livan Hernandez, a veteran of 16 Major League seasons.  The deal includes an invitation to Spring Training.

Stark: NL Central suddenly has an identity crisis  —  Prince, Pujols and La Russa are gone, and Brewers could lose Braun for first 50 games  —  It isn't exactly true that every time Prince Fielder moves, the entire earth wobbles.  But it's 100 percent true that when Fielder signed his monstrous nine-year …

Van Slyke getting with the program  —  LOS ANGELES — When Scott Van Slyke put together a 2011 season at Double-A worthy of being named the Dodgers Minor League Position Player of the Year after seven years as a professional, some figured it was about time.  —  The nice way to put it is to call Van Slyke, 25, a late bloomer.