Yanks Aim for Giambi to Return to First  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The winter meetings will be in Las Vegas in December.  That is where Jason Giambi lives.  So what are the chances Giambi hits the town with a general manager and winds up with a rich new contract?  —  Giambi, still a proud night crawler …

Notes: La Russa to bat pitcher eighth  —  Skipper wants speed and on-base skills at the bottom of lineup  —  JUPITER, Fla. — A discussion of leadoff possibilities for the 2008 Cardinals unearthed all sorts of interesting nuggets on Tuesday, but none more revealing than this …

Kazmir checks out … Scott Kazmir walks off with head trainer Ron Porterfield, who conducted strength tests that encouraged the pitcher.  —  Times]  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The news on Rays ace Scott Kazmir's left elbow appeared relatively good Tuesday night - no serious injury …

Bunt attempt by Wolverines irks Mets' Wagner  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Forget the Phillies.  Billy Wagner nearly started a beanball war with the University of Michigan after one overzealous Wolverine tried to bunt on him in the fourth inning.  With a runner on second and one out, centerfielder Kevin Cislo pushed his bunt foul.

Sox to visit White House today  —  Members of last year's Red Sox team will fly to Washington, D.C., today to meet with President George W. Bush at the White House, an honor that comes with winning the 2007 World Series.  —  Red Sox manager Terry Francona and players, coaches …

Pedro may pitch himself into extension with Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Pedro Martinez almost retired in a Mets uniform.  It could have happened last year, if Martinez, in the midst of a grueling rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, simply decided to call it quits rather than endure the pain with no guarantees.

Texas Rangers closer in jam over blog entry  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The exhibition season hasn't yet started, and already Texas Rangers closer C.J. Wilson has found himself in a jam.  —  In his own clubhouse.  —  Wilson recently made comments about his teammates' lack …

New Twist Keeps Dickey's Career Afloat  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — By all rights, R. A. Dickey should be working a day job somewhere, cursing twisted fate.  Or he should be coaching at some Tennessee high school, telling kids what he once was and lamenting what might have been.

Yankees' Mussina advises kids Hughes, Kennedy  —  Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina, right, shares his wisdom with teammate Ian Kennedy during spring training Monday in Tampa.  (Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan)  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Mussina requested that Ian Kennedy be given a locker next to his this spring training.

Aaron Heilman flunks in college try  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Aaron Heilman had better warm up his vocal chords.  —  The Notre Dame alum bet chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon that no former Irish baseball player would give up a run against the University of Michigan yesterday.

Alfonso Soriano tries to overcome fear of Wrigley's brick walls  —  MESA, Ariz. - Alfonso Soriano grew more comfortable in Chicago with every passing day last season, and in September he enjoyed his best month as a Cub.  —  Whether he can translate that success to 2008 and put up the kind …

Notes: Hermida preaches team effort  —  Best chance to replace Cabrera's production lies in balance  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Jeremy Hermida understands the Marlins' need to find strength in numbers.  —  The front-runner to bat third in the order, the 24-year-old right fielder says the best …

Republicans block HGH bill  —  The partisan split that erupted during the Feb. 13 House committee hearing on the Mitchell Report has apparently spread to the Senate, where two unknown Republican senators have thrown up a roadblock to a bill to crack down on human growth hormone.

Mill Creek's Travis Snider grows up fast in life and baseball  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Travis Snider, at age 20, is a baseball prodigy, no question.  —  A superstar-in-waiting with the Toronto Blue Jays.  The No. 11 prospect in all of baseball, according to the latest Baseball America rankings.

Top 100 Prospects: No. 1-20  —  The Top 100 Prospects from 1-20.