Greed between the lines  —  'Loyal' A-Rod just after cash  —  TAMPA - Just when we thought the circus might finally have left Yankee spring training and been replaced by a tranquil, business-like routine, Alex Rodriguez manages to get himself all over the back pages again - and for all the wrong reasons again.

Shapiro, Indians agree to extension  —  General manager to be at helm of Tribe through 2012  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — If Mark Shapiro's plan to bring championship baseball back to Cleveland comes to fruition in the next few years, the general manager will be around to see it.

Notes: Simontacchi proves himself  —  Right-hander allows two runs in five innings Wednesday  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Jason Simontacchi proved once again that his right shoulder problems are a thing of the past, and his successful spring has him as one of the leading candidates …

Ayala likely headed to disabled list  —  Reliever not 100 percent; team doesn't want to rush him back  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The Nationals are leaning toward putting reliever Luis Ayala on the disabled list when the 2007 season starts.  The team feels the right-hander is not 100 percent and doesn't want to rush him on the field.

Sanchez, Reed duel for CF job  —  FORT LAUDERDALE — There are more than two weeks left in spring training, but the Marlins have seen enough of Reggie Abercrombie to know that he won't be their center fielder this season.  —  Abercrombie was sent to minor-league camp Wednesday as the Marlins narrowed …

Baseball tipped off to catcher safety  —  Jason Kendall can't pinpoint the first time his teeth got rattled as he sat behind the plate.  That's as it should be, because he's a catcher, and you'd sooner expect someone who does that for a living to remember when he took his first steps.

Orioles' Benson is out for 2007 … FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Three weeks into a scheduled four-week rehabilitation program, Orioles pitcher Kris Benson has chosen to have season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn right rotator cuff.  —  Benson met with Orioles vice president Jim Duquette …

Bull[pen review  —  This Rangers bullpen situation is getting interesting.  Remember, the Rangers think that, in the words of general manager Jon Daniels, their bullpen could be a "competitive advantage."  —  Scott Feldman: Throwing well right now.  Overlooked by many but pushing hard for a job in the bullpen.

Breathe in deeply: Drew draws on healthy regimen  —  FORT MYERS - J.D. Drew [stats] brought plenty of baggage to his first spring training with the Red Sox [team stats].  —  Red Sox forum:  —  There was his history of incomplete seasons.  The time spent nursing various wounds.

Hughes heads to minors  —  TAMPA - Phil Hughes may have been sent packing from Yankees camp before last night's game, but the 20-year-old phenom still could emerge later this season to begin his career in pinstripes.  —  Hughes showed his age during his three exhibition outings, posting a 7.71 ERA in 4-2/3 innings.

60 seconds with Marlins announcer Roxy Bernstein  —  Staff writer Joe Capozzi spoke with Marlins announcer Roxy Bernstein, who also does work for the University of California:  —  How did you become close friends with Adam Duritz, the lead singer of Counting Crows?

Pelfrey Has to Struggle, Making the Mets Happy  —  Mike Pelfrey lost his fastball Wednesday somewhere among the orange groves and cattle farms that line the roads between here and Port St. Lucie.  That would not have mattered to him six months ago.  He would have thrown it anyway …

Delcarmen Seeing Change With His Eyes Closed  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manny Delcarmen has practiced pitching with his eyes closed.  Since doing so, he has been opening others.  —  Delcarmen, 25, is vying for one of the last slots in the Red Sox bullpen and has turned his spring around …

Rose admits to betting on Reds every night  —  Pete Rose revealed Wednesday that he bet on the Reds "every night" while he was manager of the team and that the Dowd Report was correct when it said he did so.  —  Rose spoke Wednesday with Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann on ESPN Radio to discuss …

Dodgers release Tatis, make Billingsley reliever  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — The Los Angeles Dodgers released third baseman Fernando Tatis on Wednesday — three days after he failed to report to their minor league camp.  —  The Dodgers reassigned Tatis on Sunday in the club's first round of roster cuts.