Morgan expects to be gone by Opening Day  —  VIERA, Fla. — Center fielder Nyjer Morgan believes his days with the Nationals are numbered and does not expect to be with the team by Opening Day.  —  Morgan, who is on the trading block, is aware the Nationals plan to use Rick Ankiel as their Opening Day center fielder.

Slama back in action after elbow woes  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Right-hander Anthony Slama, who has been sidelined all month with a stress reaction in his right elbow, threw in a Minor League game against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing one run on one hit while walking one and striking out two in one inning of work.

Spring training 2011: New York Yankees add to mix by signing Kevin Millwood  —  The New York Yankees signed right-hander Kevin Millwood to a minor league deal on Friday.  —  The Yankees expected to announce soon if Freddy Garcia or Bartolo Colon will be the team's fifth starter, with the other likely headed to long relief.

The Moneyball Mets  —  Sandy Alderson needed to dump salary, and rebuild from scratch, anyway.  Being broke, for now, might actually be a good thing.  —  On the sliding scale of sports-fan optimism, Mets fans' hopes for this year's team fall somewhere between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Washington Generals.

Homer Bailey to the DL  —  The Reds placed Homer Bailey on the disabled list with right shoulder impingement.  He is expected to miss two starts.  —  “It's something he could pitch with,” Jocketty said.  “But discussing with Dr. (Tim) Kremchek, Dusty (Baker) and Bryan (Price), we decided to shut him down for about a week.

Sweeney signs 1-day deal with KC, retires as Royal  —  SURPRISE, Ariz.—Mike Sweeney wanted to end his career the same way he started it, as a member of the Kansas City Royals.  —  So the former slugger signed a one-day minor league contract with Kansas City, then officially retired Friday as a member of the Royals.

What Happened Was  —  That guy I know who often see films months in advance caught a version of Bennett Miller's Moneyball (Sony, 9.23) last night, and...well, here he is: “I loved it, and I didn't expect to.  It's a baseball-from-the-business-angle movie, for goodness sake …

Meet Baseball's Human Garbage Can  —  Arizona's Bullpen Catcher Will Eat Almost Anything—For a Price; the Habanero Incident  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—When Bryan Price joined the Arizona Diamondbacks as their pitching coach in 2006, he started hearing rumors about Jeff Motuzas, the team's longtime bullpen catcher.

2011 spring training: Braden Looper retires after being cut by Chicago Cubs  —  MESA, Ariz. — Pitcher Braden Looper decided to retire on Friday after he was told by the Chicago Cubs that he will not be on the Opening Day roster.  —  The 36-year-old Looper, who had a non-guaranteed minor league deal …

McLane ‘close’ in deal to sell Astros to Jim Crane  —  Drayton McLane is nearing a deal to sell the Astros to Houston businessman Jim Crane, several people with knowledge of the discussions said Friday.  —  “They're close,” a high-ranking Major League Baseball official said.

Dodgers tell Mahay he won't make roster  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Dodgers non-roster reliever Ron Mahay, whose escape clause calls for a decision Friday, was told he won't make the Opening Day roster and the club is awaiting a decision on whether he will accept an assignment to the Minor Leagues.

Yankees trade Sergio Mitre to Brewers for Chris Dickerson  —  Just hours after adding some veteran rotation depth by agreeing to terms on a minor-league contract with Kevin Millwood the Yankees have traded Sergio Mitre to the Brewers, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.