Rangers deal Dellucci to Phillies for pitcher  —  ARLINGTON - Rangers general manager Jon Daniels took another stab Saturday at trying to fill what became a depleted starting rotation with the injury to Adam Eaton.  —  The Rangers made their second trade in as many days …

Nationals' Astacio Heads to DL  —  No. 3 Starter Will Have MRI Exam On Stiff Forearm  —  BALTIMORE, April 1 — Washington Nationals starting pitcher Pedro Astacio was placed on the disabled list after he experienced stiffness in his right forearm; he threw two innings in Saturday's 8-4 exhibition loss against the Baltimore Orioles.

Notes: Lofton placed on 15-day DL  —  Outfielder joins growing list of Dodgers' wounded  —  ANAHEIM — New management team or not, the Dodgers are starting out 2006 a lot like 2005: injured.  —  They had to put 38-year-old center fielder Kenny Lofton on the 15-day disabled list Saturday night …

Mets Set the Roster, Then Zambrano Limps Away  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., March 31 — The toe is fine, and so is the rest of him, Pedro Martínez promised after pitching four innings Friday in the Mets' 9-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  But not long after Martínez reassured …

With Greenies Banned, Up for a Cup of Coffee?  —  For perhaps half a century, amphetamines have been accessible to major league baseball players.  If players were weary after a late night out, a long trip or a streak of tiring games, they could find the pep pills almost as readily as they could sip coffee or swig soda.

PRE-SEASON ROUNDTABLE 2006, PART II  —  Cubs Roundtable Questions (Spring 2006)  —  Yesterday we got the opinions of the TCR powers that be, we now pose the same 11 questions to some of the finest Cubs bloggers out there.  Former TCR writers Scott Lange(Gonfalon Cubs at Baseball Think Factory) …

Emphasis on defense squeezes out Bartlett  —  Juan Castro will be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop, while Jason Bartlett will head to Rochester to work on leadership skills.  —  FORT MYERS, FLA. - The Twins will set their 25-man roster today, and manager Ron Gardenhire delivered most of the big news Friday …

Pirates, Torres agree to two-year extension  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Another key player has forfeited free agency to remain with the Pirates.  —  Reliever Salomon Torres yesterday agreed to terms with the team on a two-year contract extension worth $6.5 million that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2008.

Miles appears to get the nod at second base  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. — Moving before, during and after Friday's exhibition win over the New York Mets, the Cardinals reversed field at second base, postponed a call on their final position player and solidified a pitching staff.

It Appears Salmon Has Made the Team  —  Just in time for what could be his first appearance at Angel Stadium since Aug. 23, 2004, the Angels are expected to announce today that fan favorite Tim Salmon has made the team.  —  Salmon, who has excelled this spring in his comeback from knee …

White Sox, Contreras agrees to extension  —  CHICAGO (AP) - White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras agreed Saturday to a three-year, $29 million contract extension after being Chicago's most effective pitcher in the second half of their championship season a year ago.

Notes: Wright hits fifth in loaded lineup  —  Third baseman to break up lefties Delgado and Floyd  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — With one date remaining on the Mets' exhibition game schedule, Willie Randolph unveiled the batting order he later identified as the one he expects to use most often among …