Damon not coming back to Yankees  —  TAMPA — There won't be a Johnny Damon II.  —  According to Damon, he isn't returning to the Yankees as a free agent.  —  “We both are looking at other options now,” Damon told The Post Saturday and called it “unfortunate.”  —  According to GM Brian Cashman, Damon contacted the club.

50 years ago today, the Mets opened their 1st camp  —  On this date in 1962, the Mets opened their first Spring Training as the original pitchers and catchers worked out for the first time in St. Petersburg, Florida.  —  The Mets went 40-120 and 60 1/2 games out of first place in their inaugural season of 1962.

After gauging his trade value, Cubs seem ready to make Matt Garza a long-term investment  —  Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza works in the second inning as the Chicago Cubs take on the Florida Marlins Thursday July 14, 2011 at Wrigley Field.  Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

Giants' Vogelsong out 10 days for injured back  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong says he will miss at least the first 10 days of spring training workouts while he recovers from a strained back that he injured lifting weights earlier this month.

Yanks agree to Minors deal with Rapada  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees have agreed with left-handed reliever Clay Rapada on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.  —  Rapada, 30, will step into the competition for a roster spot as a lefty specialist after 36-year-old Hideki Okajima …

Iglesias's time may come sooner rather than later  —  Mike Aviles and Nick Punto at shortstop for the Red Sox?  —  Suffice to say, major league evaluators are skeptical, and most look past the possible platoon of two utility players to prospect Jose Iglesias.

A repeat of Generation K?  No way  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Back in spring 1995, Generation K was going to change everything for the Mets, a downtrodden club known three years earlier as “The Worst Team Money Could Buy” that went on to lose 103 games in 1993.

‘Sorry’ doesn't have to be the hardest word  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Red Sox throw open the doors to their clubhouse this morning for the first time since that final night in Baltimore last September.  Later in the day, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester will be made available to the media.

Francona still feels sting of fall  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  That was Part 1 of the pain.  —  Next came the owners' vehement denial of responsibility for the leaks.  Francona was left to wonder if they had missed the point.

Tim Wakefield decides to retire  —  FORT MYERS — Tim Wakefield [stats] has decided to retire.  —  After 19 seasons, including the past 17 with the Red Sox [team stats], the veteran knuckleballer will call it quits in a 5 p.m. press conference tonight at JetBlue [JBLU] Park.

Royals agree with Eric Hosmer  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals agreed to contracts with first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, outfielder Lorenzo Cain and right-hander Luis Mendoza Saturday, two days before pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training.

Johan Santana throws 25 pitches during bullpen session; NY Mets pitcher says ‘I was able to throw all my pitches’  —  Santana's first work from mound since October  —  NY Mets pitcher Johan Santana throws live off the mound Friday in Port St. Lucie.  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Last year, it was Carlos Beltran's knees.