Beimel agrees to minor-league deal with Rockies  —  TUCSON — Joe Beimel has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Rockies pending a physical, a team source and the reliever told The Denver Post tonight.  —  “I am very excited to be coming back to Colorado.  I loved it there.

Yankees' Rodriguez to Meet Investigators in Buffalo  —  Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to meet on Friday with federal investigators who want to know about his interactions with Anthony Galea, the Canadian-based doctor whose activities are being scrutinized by a number of federal agencies in the United States.

Hughes, Joba making it tough for Girardi  —  Yankees manager aims to assign fifth-starter gig by Friday  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The reams of raw data concerning the Yankees' fifth starter competition have all been compiled: every crackling fastball, biting breaking ball, well-tossed changeup and wind-aided home run.

L.A. drama: Ownership of club at stake in McCourts' split  —  PHOENIX — Frank McCourt walked into the owner's suite at the Los Angeles Dodgers spring training site last weekend, wearing a crisp pink shirt and gray pants.  He plopped on a leather couch, looking tan, relaxed and at peace.

Jenrry Mejia faces back-to-back bullpen test, could win 8th inning role for New York Mets  —  VIERA, Fla. - Rookie sensation Jenrry Mejia could take a big step toward claiming the eighth-inning bullpen role Tuesday when he is expected to pitch on back-to-back days for the first time in spring training.

How should Mets fill the five hole?  —  Team has plenty of options at back of rotation  —  Post on facebook Fan Comments print email  —  When evaluating the Mets, one doesn't often have the luxury of seeing depth.  —  There's no real Plan B should Luis Castillo regress …

How Tom Hicks Became the Most Hated Man in Baseball  —  Tom Hicks has gone from being a major mover and shaker in sports to the  —  best example of how fast you can fall when you take on too much debt  —  Texas Rangers fans can debate the state of the line-up, whether manager Ron Washington …

Rays love Crawford but deep-pocketed Yankees are lurking … PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays star Carl Crawford might as well have a pinstriped target on his back.  The Yankees will have their hands full next winter, with their own big-time free-agents-to-be Derek Jeter …

Cubs' Soriano out to prove he's worth his big contract  —  If he stays healthy, $136 million man says he can produce to level of deal  —  MESA, Ariz. — Eight years, $136 million.  —  It might as well be Alfonso Soriano's middle name for all the anguish and outrage that contract …

Damon can finally wear '04 Red Sox ring  —  TAMPA — From the moment Johnny Damon understood his days in The Bronx were over, he started featuring a big reminder of his Red Sox career: the 2004 World Series ring.  —  “I started wearing it this past offseason after I knew I wasn't coming back to New York …

Strasburg, Heyward, Stanton  —  Players of the Day:  —  Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals  —  Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves  —  Michael Stanton, Florida Marlins  —  Of course I'm cheating.  Did you REALLY think I was going to be able to do a player every single day of spring training?

Meche stiff after outing, but not worried  —  Pitcher scheduled for two more Cactus League starts  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Royals starter Gil Meche came out of Monday's game with a stiff right shoulder but he doesn't believe it's a serious matter.  —  Meche pitched the first three innings …

So, you want to work in baseball?  Part 2  —  And then the work began.  —  The first day, I could barely contain my excitement.  In the spirit of professionalism, I had to restrain my emotions, but it wasn't easy.  Years of schooling and months of preparations had boiled down to that moment.

Nats' Taveras in mix to platoon with Harris  —  Add Nationals outfielder Willy Taveras to the mix of right-handed hitters who could platoon with Willie Harris in right field.  —  Taveras, who signed a Minor League deal with Washington last month, is having a solid spring, going 7-for-20 [.350] with a homer and four RBIs.

Analysis: Continuity Pays Off for Twins as They Re-Sign Mauer  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The pen Joe Mauer used to sign his eight-year, $184 million contract here Monday belongs to Joel Lepel, the minor league field coordinator for the Minnesota Twins.  Lepel was born and raised in Plato …

Good news for Thames; Hoffmann returned to LA  —  Rule 5 pick Jamie Hoffmann cleared waivers and was returned to the Dodgers today, paving the way for Marcus Thames to make the Yankees' season-opening roster.  Hoffmann was hitting .130 (3-for-23) this spring, and while Thames (.107) is doing even less, he has a big-league track record.

40 players left in camp  —  The Reds made three more cuts on Monday, which trimmed the roster down to 40 players.  —  Outfielder Chris Heisey was optioned to Triple-A Louisville while infielder/outfielder Todd Frazier and shortstop Zack Cozart were re-assigned to the Minor League camp.