Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen to start in Class AA Harrisburg  —  The inevitable became official this morning when the Nationals optioned phenom Stephen Strasburg to Class AA Harrisburg, meaning baseball's best pitching prospect will not join the Nationals until late spring or midsummer.

Alan Embree is returning to the Boston Red Sox after signing a minor-league deal  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alan Embree emerged from the dugout wearing a Red Sox jersey with a familiar No. 43 on the back, looked around, and smiled.  —  “Fantasy camp,” Embree said.  —  Indeed.

Lee has right lower abdominal strain  —  Left-hander could start the season on 15-day DL  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Cliff Lee's eventful week took a painful turn Friday.  —  Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner who was expected to be the club's No. 2 starter behind …

Fogg call  —  Righthander Josh Fogg, who hurt a side muscle and never appeared in a Grapefruit League game with the Mets, was expected to be released at his request to pursue a contract elsewhere, the Daily News has learned.  Fogg, 33, went 0-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 45 2/3 innings with Colorado last season.

Ozzie Guillen in flap over son  —  Manager upset with organization after son quits because club wanted him to stop blunt Twitter posts  —  Ozzie Guillen watches a game against the Red Sox.  (José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / September 6, 2009)

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig says he's always believed in realignment  —  PHOENIX — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig admitted Saturday that he has put his ideas for realignment on paper, but that's as far as it has gone thus far.  —  “When I am on long airport rides I will fiddle around …

Closer Kerry Wood lost to Cleveland Indians for six to eight weeks … GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have lost closer Kerry Wood for six to eight weeks with a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle.  Chris Perez will open the season as the closer.  —  The latissimus dorsi is located under the shoulder.

Mets' John Santana all smiles after erratic outing against Twins  —  Mets third baseman David Wright, left, and starting pitcher Johan Santana get together after the Minnesota Twins second home run in the second inning in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Friday.  —  But he couldn't resist a smile …

Nats' Dunn learning about life at first  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  —  Before the Nationals sign Adam Dunn to a contract extension, they might want to see how he performs at first base.

Sabermetrics: Stats guru advising Blue Jays  —  There's no statistic too obscure for Blue Jays adviser Tom Tango, a self-taught, secretive superstar in the growing field of sabermetrics … Tom Tango, one of the Toronto Blue Jays' latest acquisitions, won't be pitching, catching or hitting for the club this season.