Nats comfortable leaning on Stairs in a pinch  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said there is a “good chance” first baseman/outfielder Matt Stairs will be on the 25-man roster to start the 2011 season.  —  Stairs, who signed a Minor League contract with Washington this past offseason …

New York Mets expected to release Oliver Perez after cutting ties with Luis Castillo: sources  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - On Friday, the Mets appeased an angry public by releasing Luis Castillo - and sources say that Oliver Perez, another unpopular player with a generous contract, will likely soon follow him out of town.

Shoulder tendinitis slows Peavy's comeback  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. - Jake Peavy is suffering from tendinitis in the rotator cuff of his right shoulder that could put his Thursday start against the Cubs and his April 6 start in question.  —  Peavy said he has felt gradual discomfort since …

Rangers could use two of Neftali Feliz  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The pitching line for 22-year-old Neftali Feliz on Saturday:  —  Five innings.  Four hits allowed.  Two runs.  Two walks.  Three strikeouts.  —  And unfortunately for the Texas Rangers, only one Neftali Feliz.

Wood's Time With Angels Running Out?  —  Eight years ago, Brandon Wood was a first-round pick (23rd overall) by the Angels.  Five years ago, Baseball America dubbed him the third-best prospect in the game.  He ranked 8th and 16th on that same list the following two seasons.

TAKING A SABER TO SABERMETRICS  —  This was going to be a column about a new baseball book, but a couple of matters intruded and have to be dealt with first, both having to do with the book, “The Beauty of Short Hops” by Sheldon and Alan Hirsch.  It is subtitled “How Chance and Circumstance Confound the Moneyball Approach to Baseball.”

The latest on the payroll situation, Luis Castillo and more  —  Good morning from another glorious Sunday morning in Clearwater, Florida.  The sun is shining, the sky is cloudless, and the line for tickets to this afternoon's Yankees-Phillies tilt looks a lot like the line at job fairs these days.

A-Rod could be primed for a big year  —  Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was the American League MVP in 2003, '05 and '07.  Don't be surprised if he emerges as a leading competitor for the award in '11.  —  “I can't say enough about his swing, his body, the shape he's in,” Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long said.

Orioles' Lee has MRI on left foot  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee was not in Sunday's starting lineup and wasn't likely to play at all in the O's contest in Port Charlotte, Fla., after fouling a ball off his left foot Saturday afternoon.

Padres Claim Pat Neshek Off Of Waivers  —  The Padres announced that they have claimed right-hander Pat Neshek off of waivers from the Twins.  The news was first broken by the reliever himself on his Twitter feed.  —  Neshek first broke into the Majors with Minnesota in 2006.

Garza, Looper labor as Cubs fall to Friars  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Aaron Harang tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings Saturday and Chase Headley added a grand slam as the Padres defeated the Cubs, 14-4, at the Peoria Sports Complex.  —  Harang allowed two hits in pitching into the sixth inning for the first time this spring.