Phillies' Ryan Howard wins arbitration  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ryan Howard has won his salary arbitration hearing against the Phillies, a baseball source told The Inquirer this morning.  —  He will make $10 million this season.  —  The Phillies had offered $7 million.

A-Rod spins the story a little too much  —  Ah, the wonderful world of Alex Rodriguez.  —  During his meeting with reporters today, the subject of PEDs came up and Rodriguez said he was tested nine or 10 times last season.  —  While that sounds good, that many tests would indicate a problem.

The Oracle of the Phillies Has the Last Words  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — In its never-ending quest to mirror the American political landscape, baseball has found its answer to the latest Clinton-Obama hullabaloo.  —  A year ago, Jimmy Rollins proclaimed his Phillies “the team to beat” …

COMPUTER CRASH  —  CAPTAIN SHAKES OFF MEAN MACHINE'S SILLY STUDY  —  Derek Jeter arrived at his 16th Yankees spring training yesterday labeled the worst shortstop in the majors by some statistical braniacs over at Penn.  —  “Maybe it was a computer glitch,” the three-time Gold Glove winner said of the report.

Source: Dbacks, Trot Nixon agree … The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached an agreement on a minor league contract with veteran outfielder Trot Nixon, according to a baseball source.  —  Nixon, 33, gives the Diamondbacks some insurance from the left side of the plate as corner infielder Chad Tracy continues …

Notes: Counsell knows his role  —  Cameron rests hamstring; Yost mulling Fielder-Braun lineup  —  PHOENIX — On one hand, Brewers veteran Craig Counsell wants to play.  But if he does play extensively in 2008, it means something has gone terribly wrong for the team.

Moises Alou may play until he's 45  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Moises Alou didn't pick up a bat until mid-January, his winter instead consumed by hunting quail in the Dominican Republic.  Yet when Alou finally resumed taking cuts, the outfielder's proficiency instantly resurfaced.

Mets meet with Freddy Garcia  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The unsigned Freddy Garcia met with GM Omar Minaya at the Mets' complex on Wednesday, but neither side indicated that signing the former Phillie was imminent.  —  Garcia, 32, a longtime Minaya favorite who has also played for the Mariners and White Sox …

Manny speaks...  Though he didn't do it in a formalized setting, Manny Ramirez did decide to speak with the media this morning.  This could signal that Ramirez will be heading back to the old days, when he regularly talked to members of the media.  He used to, but took a hiatus, finally breaking his silence in the 2007 postseason.

Astros sign versatile free agent Chacon  —  Righty starter/reliever inked to one-year, $2 million deal  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Houston Astros signed right-hander Shawn Chacon to a one-year deal worth $2 million plus incentives, general manager Ed Wade announced on Wednesday.

Pirates, Kim agree to $850,000 deal  —  Pitcher due to arrive in Bradenton today for physical  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates' contract with free-agent pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim, a one-year, major-league deal with base pay of $850,000 and up to $1 million in performance bonuses, will be completed if he passes a physical today.

Lucchino won't bite on Steinbrenners' bait … FORT MYERS - Larry Lucchino hadn't read the most recent comments from Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, but that didn't mean he wasn't aware of them.  The Red Sox [team stats] president is no stranger to the fact that very little about the sons of George …

Tickets gone for last game at Stadium  —  The last regular season game at Yankee Stadium is sold out.  —  Fans scooped up a few thousand tickets online in just 11 minutes Wednesday.  —  Scalpers quickly started hawking tickets for the historic Sept. 21 game against the Baltimore Orioles …