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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Brewers erecting a statue of Selig outside park  —  MILWAUKEE (AP)—The Brewers are erecting a statue of baseball commissioner Bud Selig outside Miller Park and will unveil it on Aug. 24.  —  Selig headed a group that bought the Seattle Pilots in bankruptcy court in 1970, moved the franchise to Milwaukee and renamed it the Brewers.