Glavine gets credited with a $acrifice  —  One Mets official described it as "financial engineering."  A more common term might be "payroll flexibility."  But in reworking the contract of Tom Glavine last winter, the bottom line is the same: The Mets wanted to create a war chest for this season …

Torn tendon will sideline Yankees catcher  —  NEW YORK — Yankees catcher Jorge Posada has a torn hamstring tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined at least a few days.  —  Posada wasn't placed on the disabled list following his MRI exam that revealed the injury …

Weaving his way to the big leagues  —  PCL strikeout and ERA leader promoted to Angels of Anaheim  —  It took Jered Weaver less time to reach the Majors than it did for him to make it to the Minors.  —  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim called up their 2004 first-round pick from Triple …

Ethier, farm system pays dividends for Dodgers  —  So, here's how the Dodgers stole left fielder Andre Ethier from the A's.  —  Scouting director Logan White liked Ethier after watching him play in the Arizona Fall League and was among those who recommended him to new general manager Ned Colletti.

RANGERS NOTES  —  Lineup shifts with Kinsler's return at 2nd  —  ARLINGTON - Ian Kinsler was activated from the disabled list Thursday, six weeks after suffering a dislocated left thumb.  He was immediately inserted into the lineup at second base, batting ninth.

Boomer's back to face Rays  —  Tampa Bay (21-27) at Boston (27-18), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  The Red Sox get their second look of David Wells this season on Friday when they play the second game of a four-game series with the Rays at Fenway Park.  —  The 43-year-old left-hander replaces Lenny DiNardo …

Phillies primed for action  —  With enough baseball played to identify strengths and weaknesses, the time is right for Pat Gillick to play a hand.  —  This afternoon isn't just the final game of a three-game series with the division leader.  It's the last game before the Phillies come home to meet their maker.

Hope for Halos  —  Talented Angels aren't done yet, but time runs short  —  A game-winning suicide squeeze — yeah, that sounds like the way the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim do things.  —  But when the Angels tried to squeeze home the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning …

Why Albert Pujols will break the single-seaon home run record  —  Albert Pujols is having an almost unbelievable year.  He's hitting .323.  His on-base percentage is .449.  He's on pace to hit over eighty home runs.  It's ridiculous.  The season's a little over a quarter done …

No love lost between Mesa, Vizquel  —  Jose Mesa says it's over.  Omar Vizquel doesn't believe him.  —  So simple, yet so complex.  The former teammates who once rallied for the same cause are now vicious rivals.  —  Nine years after their Cleveland Indians won the American League pennant …

Pirates confronting the question: Why not Freddy?  —  Sanchez shines in Randa's absence, but team will not name him starter  —  It was early autumn, and the Pirates' baseball operations staff was conducting its annual organizational meeting, the one in which depth charts are developed for the following year.

Cubs' Prior to go on rehab next week  —  CHICAGO —Cubs pitcher Mark Prior, on the disabled list all season with a sore right shoulder, will probably go on a rehab assignment at Class A Peoria either Monday or Tuesday.  —  Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Prior would throw on the side at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

Elbow irritation sends Maroth to DL  —  Tigers call up Spurling from Triple-A to fill left-hander's spot  —  DETROIT — The Tigers placed left-handed pitcher Mike Maroth on the 15-day disabled list on Friday with irritation in his left elbow.  —  The injury has bothered Maroth …

Draft Chat: Jim Callis  —  Q: … A:  —  Jim Callis: Hi, everyone.  Just got off the phone with another draft-related call, but I'll be here for the next hour.  There's still a lot of uncertainty in this draft, starting at the top with the Royals at No. 1, so all the speculation you'll …

Prospectus Matchups  —  The Big Folks' Table  —  Best American League Matchup (opponents with best combined Prospectus Hit List rankings) : Cleveland Indians (10th) @ Detroit Tigers (1st)  —  No more kiddy table dining for the Tigers.  For the next two-plus weeks, they'll be at the big folks' table …

THE GOOD, BAD AND FUNNY  —  METS COACH MANUEL FOLLOWS YOGI'S PATH  —  May 26, 2006 — NOTE to SNY: Give us more Jerry Manuel.  —  Manuel, the Mets' first-base coach, provided some fabulously fractured quotes when he managed the White Sox.  Wednesday, during Phillies-Mets …

Astros Can't Steal Win Against Nats  —  LeCroy Has Long Day Behind the Plate: Nationals 8, Astros 5  —  His Washington Nationals had just beaten the Houston Astros 8-5, had just won three games in a row for just the second time all year.  Yet here was Frank Robinson, 70 years old …