Mets' Francoeur says he'll hit 27 home runs this season  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Jeff Francoeur is baseball's 5-hour Energy drink.  And when he's swinging the bat well he's the perfect pick-me-up for the Mets.  —  “He's the definition of an optimist,” David Wright said yesterday on the eve …

New York Mets invite Dwight Gooden to be spring training advisor  —  The Mets are paging Doctor K.  —  Dwight Gooden, whose demons branded him as a club pariah, Wednesday told the Daily News that the Amazin's had invited him to be a spring training adviser.

Cleveland Indians sign Russell Branyan; he'll start at first base (with video) … GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have a new first baseman.  He's part of their past and part of their present.  Introducing Russell Branyan.  —  Branyan's one-year, $2 million deal became official Wednesday after he passed a physical Tuesday.

PADRES NOTES: Gonzalez expects big bucks for next contract  —  “Hometown discount” doesn't appear to be a phrase in Adrian Gonzalez's vocabulary.  After sacrificing dollars for security with his last contract three years ago, the Padres first baseman appears unlikely to devalue his skill set when he next enters into negotiations.

Red Sox provide first look at new spring training complex  —  The view from the first base sideline.  Renderings provided by Populous/Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects, Inc.  —  Preliminary architectural renderings of the new Red Sox spring training complex in Fort Myers were released today.

Two Will Climb Ladder, but How High?  —  TAMPA, Fla. — In the first year of the new Yankee Stadium, its tenants won the World Series.  In its second, Alex Rodriguez could hit his 600th home run.  In its third, Derek Jeter should notch his 3,000th hit.  More milestones will follow …

Curtis Granderson tries to keep eyes on the ball, will wear contacts with New York Yankees  —  TAMPA - Curtis Granderson's struggles against lefthanders last year have been well-documented, as have his late-season problems with judging fly balls.  —  Granderson won't assign blame for either issue …

Texas Rangers void contract of infielder Khalil Greene  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers voided the contract of utility infielder Khalil Greene on Thursday.  —  Greene wasn't able to report to spring training because of a “recurrence of issues he's dealt with in the past,” …

The New BP Fantasy  —  As many of you know, I have been hinting for a few weeks about some changes to the fantasy baseball coverage here at Baseball Prospectus.  I had to wait until everything was in order before I could share with you, but after receiving the okay, I'm here to announce …

Citi Field Could Become Venezuela North  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — In a far corner of the Mets' spring training clubhouse, a group of players laughed and talked Spanish, and words like chamo and pana floated beyond the grasp of some of the other Spanish-speaking players nearby.

Prospectus Hit and Run  —  Call it True Average  —  If you've followed us at Baseball Prospectus for any length of time, you're probably familiar with Equivalent Average, or EqA, one of our signature hitting stats.  If you're not, here's the skinny: it's the expression of how many runs …

Mets' Manuel leads list of managers on the hot seat … PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Perpetually easygoing Mets manager Jerry Manuel may one day lose his job — maybe even sooner than later — but he will never lose his sense of humor.  —  In an incongruously happy Mets camp …

DIPS, BABIP and Common Sense  —  When Eric Seidman and I unveiled SIERA, a little Googling showed that there were three big debates that broke out on the internet.  Firstly, sabermetricians debated its validity and value.  Secondly, readers debated whether they wanted to see how the sausage …

Video: Chapman throws live BP  —  No video display?  Check the video tab.  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Aroldis Chapman impressed in his first live batting practice session on Wednesday.  —  Chapman faced Chris Burke, Chris Heisey, Chris Valaika, Corky Miller and Yonder Alonso.  Wilkin Castillo caught for Chapman.

The 2010 Yankees gather as a group  —  Wrapping up here on Derek Jeter Press Conference Day at Steinbrenner Field, and it was definitely nice to be back in the picnic tent without having to talk about performance-enhancing drugs like the last couple of years.

Sox's Guillen amazed by Twitter reaction  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Blindsided by all the media hoopla, manager Ozzie Guillen said Wednesday he plans to keep his Twitter account while vowing not to talk about the White Sox.  —  “Let me start with this,” Guillen said during his 14-minute post-practice session.

Nationals' roster seems unusually well-defined  —  In two days, the Washington Nationals will hold their first full-squad workout.  In 40 days, the Nationals will play their first game.  Normally the period between Practice No. 1 and Game No. 1 causes untold roster contortions, but this year's Nationals seem already well-defined.