Yankees' Johnson focuses on approach at plate  —  Nick Johnson may have two of the slowest legs in The Bronx this summer, but Kevin Long isn't interested in the Yankees' designated hitter's foot speed.  —  Instead, the hitting coach is focused on Johnson using the lower half of his body to keep from getting beat on inside pitches.

Giants, Lincecum reach $23M, 2-year deal  —  Buzz up!  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants reached a preliminary agreement on a $23 million, two-year contract ahead of the scheduled start of an arbitration hearing.  —  The two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner …

With ongoing Damon soap opera, nothing is as it appears … Johnny Damon, with the matinee-idol looks and obvious love of the big stage, is starring in his very own soap opera this winter.  —  At first, it was thought that he was going to cash in big-time following his home run of a regular season and his World Series heroics.

Yankees' Phil Hughes gives battle for rotation spot a start  —  TAMPA - Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain are working out at the Yankees' minor-league complex, preparing for the start of spring training next week, honing their changeups and getting used to the feel of their spikes on a mound again.

‘Big Hurt’ Frank Thomas announces retirement after 19-year career … CHICAGO — Frank Thomas has announced his retirement following a 19-season career in which he hit 521 homers and won two American League MVP awards with the Chicago White Sox.  —  The Big Hurt made the announcement Friday.

Mets Top 11 Prospects  —  Four-Star Prospects  —  Three-Star Prospects  —  Four More:  —  12. Jeurys Familia, RHP: Familia had the best pure arm on an impressive staff at Low-A Savannah last year, but most see him in a future relief profile.  —  13. Cesar Puello, OF …

Delgado unlikely to accept current offers  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  —  Could free-agent first baseman Carlos Delgado be this year's Pedro Martinez, waiting until after the season begins to sign with a contender?

View Photo Gallery  —  This could be the year that baseball-stat freaks finally crack the “Derek Jeter enigma.”  A panel of coaches has awarded the New York Yankees' shortstop four of the past six Gold Glove awards for fielding excellence.  That drives statisticians nuts …

Minaya: Many battles to be won at spring training  —  The Mets are baseball's piñata.  They've made mistakes, and have been blasted, but when pitchers and catchers get together next week in Port St. Lucie, along with early arriving position players, one thing will be in the air that's been missing in past years: competition.

Four Mets out of minor-league options  —  When players' performances in spring training are comparable, so many times the competition is won by the player who is out of minor-league options - meaning the player who could not be sent to the minors until he cleared waivers.

Red Sox ‘Truck Day’ has arrived!  —  Sorry Punxsutawney Phil and your six-more-weeks-of-winter prediction, but if you live in New England and are a fan of Red Sox, a sure sign of spring has arrived — Truck Day!  —  The truck arrived at Fenway Park this morning just after 6:30 a.m …