St. Louis Cardinals close to signing Felipe Lopez  —  • The St. Louis Cardinals are close to agreement with free agent utility player Felipe Lopez on a one-year contract that would offer infield depth and add a much-needed lefthanded bat, sources close to negotiations confirmed Friday.

Break up the (AL) East  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  —  As a baseball official says, ask five people for opinions on realignment, and you'll get six ideas.  —  I'm not going to pretend that change would be easily accomplished.

NY Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett worked on changeup with longtime reliever Arthur Rhodes … TAMPA, Fla. — Encouraged by a full season of watching CC Sabathia dominated hitters with his changeup, Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett spent his entire offseason trying to improve his own version of the pitch.

Posada on the 5th starter race: Bring your A-Game now  —  Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes each threw 30-something pitches in their live BP session today, which we'll detail in a moment.  —  Jorge Posada caught Hughes and hit against Joba (who threw a sharp slider that grazed off Posada's front foot) …

Wright-Bay? ...  Or Bay-Wright?  —  Jerry Manuel said Friday that he's unsure about whether it should be David Wright-Jason Bay in the Nos. 4 and 5 slots, or vice versa, but he envisions the Opening Day lineup like this:  —  Pagan, cf  —  Castillo, 2b  —  Reyes, ss  —  Wright, 3b / Bay, lf

Mariners completely overhauling their approach to fitness and training  —  Just got out of the Mariners weight room down here, which, I have to say, is almost completely devoid of weights.  The Mariners, as we mentioned yesterday on the blog, have signed a three-year contract with Dr. Marcus Elliott …

Phillies' payroll projected at $136.55 million  —  Howard, Halladay club's highest-paid players for 2010  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies' projected Opening Day payroll is at least $136.55 million.  —  The Phillies recently inked their remaining unsigned players who are not eligible for salary arbitration.

Thames can opt out  —  In a way, veteran Marcus Thames and Rule 5 pick Jamie Hoffmann are in the same boat this spring.  They're both right-handed outfielders who will either make the major league roster, or likely won't be in the Yankees organization at all.

Moving experience for former Phillies' prospect Taylor, now with Oakland  —  PHOENIX - The Phillies wanted Michael Taylor to play winter ball in Obregon, Mexico.  He had never seen anything quite like it.  —  “Animals on the field.  Like chickens and stuff like that.  People having barbecues in the stands.

Why Cards must keep Pujols, and why it looks like they will … JUPITER, Fla. — Baseball executives agree on a couple things regarding superstar Albert Pujols, the Cardinals and their future together.  —  1. Pujols and the Cardinals have a very good chance to stay together beyond 2011 …

Overworked Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau decides to rest more in spring training  —  Justin Morneau knows how much the Minnesota Twins depend on him, which is why he has long believed that he could not afford to take a day off of work once spring training started in late February.

Much has changed for A-Rod in a year  —  Now a champ, third baseman focused on replicating success  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez has won.  Alex Rodriguez has lost.  —  He has faltered in the postseason and he has come through in the clutch.  He has been vilified and he has been beloved.