Bradley ejected by home-plate umpire  —  Mariners outfielder appeared to protest call by dropping bat  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The Mariners suffered their second player ejection in the past two games Wednesday night when left fielder Milton Bradley was thrown out of the 8-1 loss to the Texas Rangers …

Cocaine, blackmail converge on Texas Rangers  —  Not that anyone would admit it publicly, but Rangers management could see this one coming.  For months, it watched a PR disaster building like a thunderstorm to the west.  —  Let's just say the ballclub had been warned.

Mejia has goods to rescue Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Talk to Jenrry Mejia and you learn that he's not scared of anything or anyone.  You quickly realize something more important.  The Mets young pitcher looks at baseball as a job.  Combine that with electric stuff and you have everything you need to get to the majors, at any age.

Ask Boswell: Nats Spring Training, Stephen Strasburg, Caps and more  —  The transcript follows.  —  Tallahassee: Boz: Please tell me that the signing of Grossman makes it more likely that the 'Skins will pick an offensive lineman in the first round.  Please?

Source: Rockies interested in reliever Beimel  —  TUCSON — The domino effect of injuries has led the Rockies to express interest in free- agent reliever Joe Beimel, according to a major-league source.  —  With Huston Street pegged to start the season on the disabled list …

Martinez, an Understudy, Is Playing Like a Star  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Mets put an entire story line on the team bus on Wednesday, sending all three contenders for the starting center-field job on the three-hour trip here to face the Boston Red Sox.  —  Call it a road show …

Chamberlain Tightens Battle for Fifth Spot in Yankees' Rotation  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain could probably have pitched his way out of the rotation with a poor outing Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.  Instead, Chamberlain breezed through four innings …

Zinicola's Toronto tenure comes to end  —  Rule 5 Draft pick headed back to Nats with Jays' 'pen full  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Zech Zinicola's locker was emptied out and his Blue Jays' equipment bag was stuffed with his belongings on Thursday morning.  The pitcher looked up and then removed …

Cleveland's failed pursuit of Tim Lincecum in 2005 didn't please MLB officials: Indians Insider … GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have faced two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum twice since coming to Arizona for spring training in 2009.  Each time it's happened, bloggers and chat room participants …

The shortstops: Nomar, Jeter, A-Rod were long on talent  —  Not so long ago virtually any discussion of the best shortstops in baseball included Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra.  —  The late 1990s were arguably the golden era of American League shortstops …

Early reviews positive for Cubs' designated ‘goofball’  —  Kevin Millar has hit .333 with a 545 on-base percentage, and has melded well with his new teammates  —  MESA, Ariz. — In a radio interview near the end of the 1996 season, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf claimed his ballclub was too …

Minor League Transactions  —  See also: Transactions Glossary. … Arizona Diamondbacks  —  Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Cesar Valdez, SS Pedro Ciriaco  —  Optioned to Double-A: RHP Daniel Stange, LHP Leyson Septimo  —  Atlanta Braves  —  Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Stephen Marek …