Yankees Soar, Mets Plunge On List of Baseball's Most Valuable Teams  —  Baseball has emerged from the recession with a big bang.  —  The average MLB franchise is now worth $523 million, an all-time high and 7% more than last year.  All of the league's teams rose in value except for three …

Oswalt struck in neck, X-rays negative  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The line drive screamed off the bat and headed directly toward Roy Oswalt.  The veteran righthander spun to his left as he completed the follow through on his pitch, but could not avoid the ball.

Yankees Blog  —  TAMPA — Jorge Posada will turn 40 this season.  This is not the end of the line, though.  If all goes well in his new designated-hitter role, Posada wants to come back to the Yankees again in 2012.  —  If they don't want him back, Posada admitted, it would be difficult …

Yankees may need to send Jesus Montero to Triple-A as play behind plate dips during hitting slump  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Jesus Montero, the can't-miss slugger, hasn't lived up to the hype in spring training, and it's starting to look as if the Yankees may not have a choice but to send him back to Triple-A …

Nationals To Sign Oliver Perez  —  The Nationals have agreed to sign Oliver Perez to a minor league deal, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown (on Twitter).  This marks the second time this week that an NL East rival has picked up a discarded Mets veteran; the Phillies signed Luis Castillo Monday.

Barnstorming the Cactus League … As I pull into the parking lot at the Texas Rangers' spring training facility on Monday morning, the wind is howling, rain is starting to pound the pavement, the temperature has dropped almost 10 degrees since I left the hotel and the radio is reporting …

2011 Organization Talent Rankings  —  We present our annual organization talent rankings, evaluating each farm system based on its prospect-eligible players heading into the 2011 season.  Our ratings consider both impact talent and overall depth and were developed by the Baseball America staff.

Morrow to start season on 15-day DL  —  DUNEDIN, Fla — Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right forearm.  —  Morrow had been expected to be named Toronto's No. 2 pitcher.  He was scheduled to appear …

First Look: MLB Top Jersey Sales  —  One of the most popular lists I put out is the league jersey sales lists.  The NBA and the NFL have been doing it for years, but today, Major League Baseball enters the fray.  —  So who is missing on the Top 10 list?  —  Well, Stephen Strasburg is not there.

Francoeur stays positive through struggles  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Even though Jeff Francoeur has spent most of Spring Training hitting a buck something, he's never lost that million-dollar smile.  The Royals' new right fielder is the epitome of upbeat.  —  “I love this game and I love to be around it,” he said.

Justin Turner optioned to Triple-A, hello Brad Emaus  —  Justin Turner was sent down to the minors this morning, which essentially paves the way for Brad Emaus to lock down the starting second base job.  —  Updated by Matthew Cerrone at 9:40 am: … ~ Emaus, quoted by MLB.com

Braves' Salazar returns to camp after losing eye  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Atlanta Braves minor-league manager Luis Salazar returned to camp Wednesday, two weeks after being struck in the face by a foul ball and losing his left eye.  —  “I'm very fortunate to be alive,” Salazar said.

Joba Chamberlain's velocity raises eyebrows as New York Yankees reliever returns to mound  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Is Joba Chamberlain ready to turn the clock back to 2007?  —  Spring training results can often be deceiving, but the radar gun doesn't lie.  Chamberlain hit as high as 96 mph during …

Burnett could be part of closer by committee  —  VIERA, Fla. — Although Nationals left-hander Sean Burnett continues to be a quality reliever, it appears he will be part of a closer by committee.  Manager Jim Riggleman indicated that he may need Burnett in the seventh or eighth innings.