Mets stub toes in quest to build trust  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — These are the 2010 Mets and their greatest curse just might be that they follow the 2009 Mets.  —  This is their closest relative, and their closest relative was a screw up.  The Mets want a clean slate.

A.J. Burnett, Andrew Brackman and Royce Ring grab gold in New York Yankees team Olympics  —  The Yankees held their 2nd annual field trip away from the ballpark, changing things up from a pool tournament to an Olympic-type event at an arcade.  —  A.J. Burnett emerged victorious …

Get used to it: Gonzalez is a wanted man  —  Jake Peavy is planning a prison break.  —  He wants to spring Adrian Gonzalez from the Gaslamp Gulag known as Petco Park.  He wants to free the oppressed slugger from the cruel, unusual and harshly low-profile punishment of playing for the Padres.

Getting into a sensitive area  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Cup or no cup?  That is the question.  —  It's a delicate issue regarding a delicate area.  The punch lines are infinite, but it's not funny when a guy gets hit in his testicles and he's not covered by the triangular hard-shell plastic designed to protect a man's private parts.

Yankees Have To Return Approximately $10,000 Each From World Series Share  —  Winning was sweet for the New York Yankees, who won their 27th championship last fall.  But it's not worth as much as it was back then.  —  Sources told CNBC that Yankees players recently received a letter …

The risk involved in the Upton deal  —  Justin Upton had a great 2009 season, and through his first two-plus years in the majors, his career numbers rank among the best ever when his age is factored into the equation.  —  Most people in baseball would say there are few players alive …

Keep Jeter in pinstripes, even as owner  —  TAMPA — The Yankees need to find a way to make Derek Jeter a Yankee for Life.  There's really only one way.  At some point the Steinbrenner family would have to take him into the ownership group.  —  The Yankees will take the field today …

Sabermetrics gains ground with Cubs  —  Ricketts said he expects organization to use statistical analysis more  —  MESA, Ariz. — Sabermetrics once was considered a four-letter word in the Cubs organization, where scouting reports trumped statistical analysis almost every time.

Podsednik to add charge to KC lineup  —  Even at 34, left fielder should offer plenty of speed  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — There's no doubt about Scott Podsednik's biggest baseball moment.  On Oct. 23, 2005, he did something only 13 other players had ever done: End a World Series game with a home run.

Hideki Matsui Quietly Went to Angels His Way  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Hideki Matsui wrapped his fingers around his lips, making a megaphone with his left hand.  In a deep voice that needed no translation, he bellowed a sound he did not hear often in seven seasons with the Yankees: “Booooooo!”

Nick Swisher's stint on mound in laugher against Rays a critical point for 2009 New York Yankees  —  TAMPA - Nick Swisher's first pitching performance of his career turned out to be one of the most important moments of his 2009 season, although it had nothing to do with his spotless ERA.

Darryl Strawberry sees young Mariano Rivera in New York Mets' prospect Jenrry Mejia  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - You can feel the Jenrry Mejia campaign beginning to build in earnest.  So far Jerry Manuel has only lightheartedly hinted at the possibility of express-laning the 20-year-old prospect …

Nolasco vying to become elite starter  —  Marlins righty has shown flashes of brilliance on mound  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The last time Ricky Nolasco took the mound in a game situation, he was making history.  —  On Sept. 30 at Turner Field in Atlanta, Nolasco set a Marlins record by striking out 16 batters.

Freddy Garcia back with White Sox  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox still believe in Freddy Garcia, even though he's won just five games the past three seasons.  —  Garcia, who has made only 23 major league starts since the 2007 season began, is slated to be Chicago's fifth starter …

Rocco Baldelli returns to Tampa Bay Rays as a special assistant  —  PORT CHARLOTTE - Former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli will rejoin the Rays as a special assistant, working with young players, executive vice president Andrew Friedman announced Tuesday.

Spring Training slate kicks off today  —  Catch all the action and intrigue on MLB.TV starting at 1 ET  —  It has been 118 days since Mariano Rivera induced Shane Victorino into a 4-3 groundout and gave the Yankees their 27th World Series title, and we are happy to announce …

Phillies pitcher Happ would love to rattle sabermetricians  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - The words J.A. Happ had waited 3 years to hear were spoken in a hushed tone, shrouded by the consuming silence of the end of a season.  Rich Dubee pulled up an office chair in the visitors' clubhouse at Yankee Stadium …

Cabrera better prepared to deal with stress  —  Tigers slugger opens up about issues handling pressure  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Miguel Cabrera has had the pressure of many on him ever since he was a highly touted teenage prospect growing up in Venezuela.  This might be the first time in his life that he knows how to deal with it.