Mets release Oliver Perez  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Three days after the New York Mets informed second baseman Luis Castillo he was being released, left-hander Oliver Perez received the same fate Monday morning.  —  Team officials informed Perez he was being let go despite being owed $12 million in the final year of his deal.

Pirates release Atkins; Olsen could start year on DL  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates this morning granted an unconditional release to infielder Garrett Atkins, signed by the club as a minor league free agent in the offseason.  —  Atkins hit .129 (4 for 31) this spring with 11 strikeouts in 17 games.

Jason Isringhausen pitches way into competition with Bobby Parnell for Mets' 8th-inning setup role  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Jason Isringhausen knows that one pitch can alter a career, or ruin a comeback attempt, so the three-time Tommy John survivor went straight to the doctor about a week ago after feeling a pop in his elbow.

Johnny Cueto has shoulder inflammation; will be shut down for 7-10 days  —  Johnny Cueto left his start Saturday after just one inning because he was suffering from biceps stiffness.  The Reds flew Cueto to Cincinnati yesterday for an arm exam this morning with team doctors.

Mets owners fire back at trustee trying to recover money for Madoff victims in motion to dismiss  —  Lawyers for the owners of the Mets have obtained two sworn depositions that they say severely undercut the claims in the $1 billion lawsuit that Irving Picard, the court-appointed trustee recovering money …

Gorzelanny's effort might be rotation-clincher  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals left-hander Tom Gorzelanny had his best outing of the spring on Sunday afternoon, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on four hits in a 6-1 loss to the Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

He's hip: A-Rod finds fountain of youth in hot spring  —  Just two years after a torn labrum in his hip threatened to sideline Alex Rodriguez  —  for more than half of the 2009 season, the New York Yankees slugger has recovered enough of his powerful potency to turn heads with towering home runs …

Jacoby Ellsbury has long-ball potential  —  Ascending to new power  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  FORT MYERS — It took Rickey Henderson six years to top 10 homers in a season, and he finished his career with 297.  Johnny Damon didn't even reach double digits until …

Peavy shut down after feeling shoulder pain  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — In the matter of approximately 16 hours, Jake Peavy went from a veritable White Sox roster lock to almost certainly not being part of their Opening Day active ranks on April 1 in Cleveland.  —  “Ah, he will be in Cleveland …

Grapefruit Game 27: Red Sox at Phillies  —  Pitching: RHP Roy Halladay, LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Ryan Madson, RHP David Herndon, RHP Scott Mathieson.  —  Game time: 1:05 p.m.  —  Location: Bright House Field, Clearwater  —  TV/Radio: ESPN  —  Notes: The Sox have lost four straight and five of their last six. ...

Twins' staff losing ground in AL Central  —  DUNEDIN, FLA.  —  The Minnesota Twins have won six division titles in Ron Gardenhire's nine seasons as manager.  In that span, no team in the majors has more.  —  Gardenhire is perhaps the best manager in baseball.  He has Joe Mauer (as long as he's healthy).

Pujols gets bases-loaded magic back  —  • In the course of winning his second straight National League Most Valuable Player award in 2009, the Cardinals' Albert Pujols hit five of the 11 grand slams he has hit in his career and knocked in an astounding 35 runs with 10 hits in 17 bases-loaded at-bats.