General observations from Epstein  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The general manager was sitting in the Red Sox dugout yesterday morning, which has seldom been a part of his routine this spring.  —  This being the last day of camp before the Sox departed Florida for two exhibition games in Philadelphia …

Veterans complete roster  —  JUPITER — The young Marlins got a little older Thursday when two thirtysomethings won the final places on the roster.  —  Infielder Jason Wood, 37, beat out outfielder John Gall for the last bench spot, and right-hander Lee Gardner, 32, edged righty Nate Field for the final bullpen spot.

Gagne to start on DL to get more work  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Eric Gagne will start the season on the disabled list for the Texas Rangers, a move the team is making to give the closer more time to come back from elbow and back operations.  —  The Rangers said Gagne hasn't had any health setbacks.

In a Shift, Younger and Cheaper Will Make the Roster  —  Sean Henn has no idea where the Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees open the season.  He will drive to Pennsylvania if the Yankees send him there, making a gloomy two-day journey.  —  If Henn makes the major league roster …

Mets take on two more; two more spots remain  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — With the Mets packing everything in boxes for the trip north, GM Omar Minaya did some housecleaning of his own Thursday with the roster, but it appears that the final version won't be ready until Friday afternoon.

Will Cubs' dollars make sense?  —  Zambrano mulls contract terms as deadline nears  —  MESA, Ariz. — As Carlos Zambrano spoke about his contract negotiations Thursday at HoHoKam Park, a pacifier was perched on a shelf in his locker.  —  Was somebody trying to tell Zambrano something?

A's to place first baseman Johnson on DL  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics first baseman Dan Johnson will begin the season on the disabled list after being diagnosed with torn cartilage in his left hip, manager Bob Geren said Thursday.  —  Johnson was injured Monday in a collision at first with Colorado's Yorvit Torrealba.

Jeter again has spring in step  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. - A few more days and the palm trees will disappear.  And the signs on the outfield fences for Carson Pest Control and Perky's Pizza will be replaced by ads for your phone and cable company, your beer, your hometown newspaper.

The cost of doing business: A fans' guide to understanding the '07 Sox payroll  —  The Red Sox [team stats] partied like a bunch of drunken sailors over the winter, freely spending money in an attempt to get back to the postseason.  But if you're trying to determine just how much the 2007 Red Sox have cost …

Denorfia to undergo surgery  —  Outfielder sidelined for six months by torn elbow ligament  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — In a busy Thursday at Reds camp, several developments moved the club closer to naming its 25-man roster.  —  The biggest news of the day was a surprise.

Martin on DL with hurt groin  —  Tucson - Tom Martin is hurt.  Not cut.  The Rockies left-hander landed on the disabled list Thursday with a strained left groin, a reflection of a bullpen that figures to continue evolving even as seven relievers were chosen to break camp.

Tigers' Rogers might have blood clot  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Tigers left-hander Kenny Rogers will miss at least one start in the regular season because of "a fatigued arm," club president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said today.  —  Dombrowski didn't provide any other details on Rogers' ailment.

Notes: Brewers roster nearly finalized  —  Position player spot, bullpen job still to be determined  —  PHOENIX — Vinny Rottino grew up about a half hour's drive from Milwaukee, yet he has never been to a Brewers home opener.  Now that he is vying for the team's final roster spot …

Nationals' Big Three Don't Run, Hit or Field  —  Thursday afternoon, Jim Bowden stood in a blazer on the field at Cooper Stadium, home to the Washington Nationals' Class AAA affiliate here, as his team was introduced.  Stan Kasten, Bowden's boss and the Nationals' president, stood nearby in a suit, a blue tie and a red Nationals cap.