Sources: MLB playoffs expanding in 2012  —  Baseball's playoffs will expand from eight to 10 teams, starting this season, according to major-league sources.  —  The sport's new collective-barganing agreement stipulated that additional wild cards would be added in each league no later than 2013.

Crew, Axford to continue work on multiyear deal  —  Both sides say they'd like contract extension; talks cordial  —  PHOENIX — Brewers closer John Axford was quick to explain why he's the only member of the 40-man roster yet to sign a 2012 contract.  —  “Just like last year, I'm holding out for billions,” he joked.

Burnett to Pittsburgh for exam on injured eye  —  Newly acquired pitcher hurt in freak bunting accident  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — A.J. Burnett is bound for Pittsburgh, where he will undergo additional medical examinations Thursday on his injured right eye.  —  Burnett bunted a ball …

Your Morning Phil: Beras, Soler, Braun  —  Talking baseball: 1.  Uh, oh.  This could get ugly.  One source in the Dominican Republic has reported that The Next Big Thing in Latin America, outfielder Jairo Beras, has agreed to a $4.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers, and the signing raises questions.

Howard sidelined indefinitely  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Ryan Howard has indeed suffered a setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely following a procedure to clean an infection from his original wound.  —  Foot specialist Mark Myerson performed a …

Miguel Tejada says he wants to return to the A's  —  Late last night, I spoke to Miguel Tejada, who won an MVP while playing shortstop for the A's in 2002, and Tejada told me his fondest desire is to return to the team that gave him his first start.  —  “I would love it,” Tejada told me by phone from Florida.

Rangers' Surprise Signing Draws Industry Scrutiny  —  The Rangers reportedly have agreed to a deal with one of the top prospects in the Dominican Republic, but the deal has set off confusion and outrage through the industry because most organizations—including Major League Baseball …

Appreciating Chipper Jones  —  Longtime Atlanta Brave has been killing opponents softly for a long, long time  —  Baseball locker rooms are full of debates.  Players often debate the best slider in the game, the best infield grass, maybe even the best postgame spread.

Davey Johnson's history lesson  —  The other day, Davey Johnson wanted to share a batting tip he had learned from an old player.  Standing around the batting cage, he had a conversation with Danny Espinosa and Ian Desmond about the importance of timing.  Johnson's story, just in case, needed a brief prologue about the source.

Marlins RF prefers Giancarlo Stanton  —  JUPITER, Fla. — His mom calls him Cruz.  Teammates call him Bigfoot.  Most baseball fans know him as Mike Stanton, precocious slugger for the Miami Marlins, but his first name is actually Giancarlo.  —  “The man of a million names,” Stanton said.

Gutierrez suffers right pec injury  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Franklin Gutierrez is known as a Gold Glove center fielder who can catch anything hit his way on the baseball field, but the Mariners veteran can't seem to catch a break in the health department after suffering an injury to his right pectoral muscle Tuesday.

Bobby Valentine mocks Derek Jeter's ‘flip’ play, revels over how Jason Varitek ‘beat up’ Alex Rodriguez in 2004  —  New Red Sox manager continues to tweak the Yankees  —  Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez duke it out during 2004 game at Fenway Park.  —  It took Bobby Valentine 10 years to get back into a major league dugout.