Nats eager to gauge Rodriguez's ability  —  Reliever acquired in Willingham trade to debut on Sunday  —  VIERA, Fla. — Right-handed reliever Henry Rodriguez is expected to make his Nationals debut in the late innings of Sunday's game against the Marlins.  —  Rodriguez, who was acquired …

Johan Santana's season in jeopardy for the Mets  —  According to a source, Johan Santana has not been progressing in his return to light throwing and the team is concerned enough to halt this section of his rehabilitation.  By doing so, the Mets' timetable of a possible late-June …

Sources: Chicago Cubs Carlos Silva being scouted by other teams  —  MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Silva has been pitching for a rotation spot with the Northsiders, but his spring outings also appear to be an audition for other teams in need of starting pitching.

2011 spring training: Boston Red Sox open to potential trades involving Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Mike Cameron, Darnell McDonald, Marco Scutaro  —  FORT MYERS, Fla.—With less than three weeks to the April 1 regular-season opener, the Boston Red Sox have let it be known that a number …

Braun says he's fine  —  A familiar problem popped up Saturday for Brewers All-Star outfielder Ryan Braun, who exited the team's Spring Training game with a rib-cage strain.  —  Braun's right side banged into the outfield wall during batting practice and he felt some discomfort along his left side that …

Angels' Kevin Jepsen wants swagger of a closer  —  Angels relief pitcher Kevin Jepsen builds on suggestion from former Angels star closer Troy Percival.  —  Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen, left, listens to catcher Hank Conger during a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 5.

Debate Over Baseball's Origins Spills Into Another Century  —  Moving beyond the binary and false options of Abner Doubleday and Alexander Cartwright Jr. as the father of baseball, three better candidates emerge: Daniel Lucius Adams, William Rufus Wheaton and Louis Fenn Wadsworth.

Haren pitches through ‘dead arm’ vs. Indians  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Dan Haren doesn't exactly know how to explain it, but he pitched with a “dead arm” against the Indians on Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark.  —  But Haren, who says he gets the same feeling every spring, was still able to weather …

Adrian wastes little time in first Red Sox action  —  With shoulder game-ready, surprise starter singles on first pitch  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — There were no backfield tuneups or “B” games for Adrian Gonzalez.  Once his surgically repaired right shoulder had healed enough for a game situation …