Yankees are not too wild about proposed playoff format for MLB playoffs  —  One-and-done is too severe for some  —  New Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda seems to be enjoying workout at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Thursday.  —  TAMPA — Major League Baseball's plan to add a second wild-card team …

Inside the Phillies: Who needs sabermetrics?  —  Phillies evaluate players the old-fashioned way.

A.J. Burnett out 2-3 months  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Newly acquired Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett is expected to miss two to three months while recovering from surgery for a facial fracture, forcing the Pirates to rearrange their plans for Opening Day.  —  The Pirates had hoped Burnett …

Justin Masterson starts Opening Day: Cleveland Indians spring training briefing  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have named Justin Masterson as their Opening Day starter for April 5 against Toronto at Progressive Field.  —  Manager Manny Acta announced the move Friday morning.

Ryan Braun urine collector endorsed by Cubs  —  Despite the Ryan Braun case, Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson says that, for the most part, players trust Major League Baseball's drug-testing process.  Jonathan Daniel~Getty Images  —  MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs might be closer …

Drew feeling better but not ready to play  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — D-backs shortstop Stephen Drew is back to intermittent baseball activities, but he's nowhere near the point in his recovery from a shattered right ankle that he's ready to play, he told MLB.com on Thursday.

Johan Santana takes another step, throwing live batting practice  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On his languid walk to the gate in center field Thursday morning, accompanied by teammate Bobby Parnell, Johan Santana took a series of small steps.  The stroll mirrored the way Santana has tried …

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jason Varitek has officially announced his retirement, bringing to an end a beloved 15-year career with the Boston Red Sox.  —  Varitek made the announcement on Thursday night at the team's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla. Many of his teammates, his parents …

Hal Steinbrenner wants to see Yankees' payroll shrink from $210 million to $189M by 2014  —  Bombers paid $13.9M in luxury taxes in 2011 and $18M in 2010  —  Hal Steinbrenner says Monday that the Yankees don't need to carry a $220 million payroll as long as the team does a good job in developing players.

Hard-throwing Hembree has bright future  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Accomplished pitchers are both born and made.  Remember that as you follow the career journey of Heath Hembree, who appears inevitably bound for San Francisco.  —  Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing a little more than 200 pounds …