Groin strain may cost Zimmerman a week  —  Nationals won't rush third baseman; Pudge also sidelined  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Ivan Rodriguez were scheduled to be in the starting lineup against the Mets on Tuesday night …

Gonzalez's agent set for Boston visit  —  FT. MYERS, FLA.  —  The agent for new Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is due to visit the team's camp next week, at which point negotiations on a long-term contract could resume.  —  John Boggs stressed during a Monday interview …

Simulated notes: One roster cut, a few injury updates  —  CC Sabathia and Bartolo Colon each pitched six scoreless “innings” this morning.  They faced the same series of four minor league hitters over and over again — two righties and two lefties — with Austin Romine taking occasional at-bats here and there.

Derek Jeter's Swinging Years  —  Derek Jeter is not a victory robot.  He knows his last season was rough.  And yeah, he's pissed at the Yankees about that contract negotiation.  The most famous player in baseball sat down with Seth Mnookin to talk his private life, the press, and the specter of his final years in pinstripes

Duda an Enticing Option for Mets  —  His Big Bat Has Manager Seriously Considering Him if an Ailing Beltran Can't Play Right Field  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—Something about Lucas Duda makes Mets managers weak in the knees.  —  For Jerry Manuel, the team's manager last year …

McClellan the favorite for final rotation spot  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Kyle McClellan remains, officially, one contender in a competition for the vacant spot in the Cardinals' starting rotation.  For all practical purposes, however, the competition has been won, and only unrelated circumstances …

Catwalk ground rules changed back to pre-playoff rules  —  At the request of Major League Baseball, the 2011 regular season ground rules pertaining to the catwalks at Tropicana Field will revert back to the language that was used during 2010 regular season.  Tropicana Field's ground rules …

PROSPECTS COUNTDOWN  —  Though Castillo is having a solid spring offensively, the source said Castillo's limited defensive range is problematic for the new regime.  The Mets still do not view Murphy as an everyday second baseman, and many in the organization are not convinced Emaus and Turner are major-league players.

Wash: Jon Daniels can find a closer  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Who will be the Rangers' closer if Neftali Feliz is in the starting rotation?  —  Manager Ron Washington indicated that the answer to that question probably isn't in Surprise at the moment.  —  “I have confidence in Jon Daniels and our scouts …

Polanco hyperextends left elbow  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Phillies cannot afford to lose another infielder.  —  But they got a scare Tuesday when Placido Polanco left a Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays in the second inning at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium because of a hyperextended left elbow.

Giants thriving in post-Barry Bonds era  —  Defending champs a fun-loving team that as recently as 2007 was mired in negativity  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Barry Bonds helped the San Francisco Giants win the World Series last season.  And he could help them win it again this season.  —  How?

Padres about front of jersey, not back  —  San Diego's big names are all gone, but that doesn't mean club can't keep on winning  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The San Diego Padres have never won a World Series or pitched a no-hitter, but they sure have a knack for churning out icons.