Nomar: It's a dream fulfilled to retire as a member of the Red Sox  —  Nomar Garciaparra, who for the better part of seven years was the face of the franchise before his shocking trade in 2004, has come home to the Red Sox.  —  At his request, the Red Sox today signed the 36-year-old …

Granderson golden for Yankees  —  Former Detroit centre fielder makes game saving play, belts two hits in 9-8 win for New York  —  Johnny Damon didn't get to play Wednesday, but Curtis Granderson made the play of the day in the first meeting between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers since …

Panel Part III: Efforts to develop black talent in USA insufficient  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fans look down from their seats onto the baseball field, see dark-colored skin and might assume they are African-American players.  —  But increasingly, the players instead hail from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico or Venezuela.

New York Mets say Jose Reyes has thyroid issue; he says no  —  The New York Mets say Jose Reyes has an overactive thyroid, but the shortstop isn't buying it.  —  The team said on Tuesday that Reyes is expected to remain in New York while the results of additional blood tests are used …

Damon misses Yanks matchup with turf toe  —  Injury not believed to be serious for former Bomber  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Tigers outfielder Johnny Damon missed his first matchup with his old team Wednesday due to turf toe in his left big toe, but the injury is not believed to be serious.

Phillies have best infield of baseball's modern era  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Joe Tinker was the shortstop.  Johnny Evers played second.  The first baseman was Frank Chance.  Poor Harry Steinfeldt.  —  He was the third baseman who faded into obscurity because he didn't make the short poem titled …

Tom Verducci: Selig, committee making good on promise to better the game … When baseball commissioner Bud Selig named a 14-person “special committee for on-field matters” four months ago, he promised that all topics would be in play and “there are no sacred cows.”

Orioles worry that Roberts might not be ready for Opening Day  —  Second baseman has herniated disk, then was sickened by medication  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - - For the first time this spring, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail acknowledged that the club is concerned …

Brewers may be young, but they're ditching the youthful exuberance … MARYVALE, Ariz. — The Milwaukee Brewers are a young team, but they are growing up fast.  They recognize that they are new school and not old school, but that they must go to school to avoid the mistakes of a year ago …

Marlins name levels for new ballpark  —  Miami's multicultural flavor to be reflected throughout  —  JUPITER, Fla. — It's still a year or so away for the naming rights of the Marlins new ballpark to be announced.  —  Yet, it's not too early to name the various levels of the retractable-roof stadium that will open in 2012.

Bradley felt like prisoner in Chicago … Seattle Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley said he felt like a prisoner in his own home when he played for the Chicago Cubs last year, and that he feared for the well-being of people around him.  —  “It was pretty bad,” Bradley said during an interview with ESPN's Colleen Dominguez.

One great debut; now what?  —  Stephen Strasburg couldn't have done much more in his spring training debut.  —  VIERA, Fla. — It lasted all of 20 minutes, included only 27 pitches (21 fastballs, four breaking balls, two change-ups) and was witnessed by 4,305 fans, several dozen scouts …