Cashman: No new pacts for big three  —  When Brian Cashman looks at Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi, the Yankees' GM paints his shortstop, closer and manager with the same brush.  —  And with spring training opening next week in Tampa, Cashman has no plans to stray from his plan of not negotiating with them.

Mets' Pelfrey drops weight, not expectations  —  One week until Fat Tuesday, but Mike Pelfrey won't be participating.  —  The Mets pitcher is prepared to arrive in camp next week some 25 pounds lighter than last season and believes that will propel him to new heights after a disappointing 2009.

Yanks sign Thames, make Winn official  —  Left fielders expected to compete with Gardner for time  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees announced Monday that they have signed right-handed-hitting outfielder Marcus Thames to a Minor League contract, inviting him and 19 other non-roster players …

Mets' Citi Field to become more homer-friendly next season; center-field wall gets chopped to 8 feet  —  Broadcaster Gary Cohen may be able to proclaim, “It's outta here!” a little more often in 2010.  And David Wright may not be as inclined to frustratingly fling his Great Gazoo helmet …

Kielty hopes to try his hand at pitching  —  Veteran wants to return to Majors as reliever, pinch-hitter  —  In the course of baseball history, numerous strong-armed position players have reinvented themselves as pitchers.  —  Outfielder Bobby Kielty — a veteran of seven Major League seasons …

Fitness might help Romero ace test  —  With lactic acid searing his legs, a heart rate-monitor recording his progress, and no end in sight to the interval workout, Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero gripped the handles of the exercise bike and kept pumping the pedals.

MLB, Granderson join anti-obesity effort  —  Yanks outfielder appears with first lady in support of campaign  —  As much as his million-dollar smile and his impressive combination of speed and power, new Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson is known for his active involvement in the community.

Fastball Losses  —  Previously, I looked at the pitchers with the biggest increases in fastball speed this past season.  The list of the top 20 was dominated by relief pitchers, which is not a huge surprise given how volatile relief pitchers tend to be and since they tend to throw harder …

It's time to trade Greinke, Soria  —  In the midst of a 1-15 season in 1989, Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson came to the conclusion the only way Dallas would be competitive long-term is to make a blockbuster trade.  —  They did  —  They traded Herschel Walker for eight draft picks, six of which would be eventually used.

Wright signed to Minor League deal  —  Here's another candidate for the bullpen: right-hander Jamey Wright.  —  The Indians signed the 35-year-old Wright to a Minor League contract with an invitation to camp.  That's now four veteran relievers brought in through Minors contracts …

The five best rotations in baseball  —  From the mailbag: … A: Matt: Hmmmmm ... I'll give it a shot.  And keep in mind we're talking about pitchers No. 1 through No. 5, not just the top one or two, in which case my vote probably would go to the Mariners (with Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee) …

Mays' life and legend transcend statistics  —  New biography of greatest living player available Tuesday  —  The man who inspired so many baseball dreams was a dreamer himself.  —  The game often stayed with him after the final out, stretching his imagination and goading him toward greater, more spectacular deeds.