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

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 …

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.

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 …

Jason Aldean works out with Braves  —  KISSIMMEE, FLA. (AP)  —  Jason Aldean circled the bases, touched home plate and collapsed next to the batting cage, pulling his cap over his face.  —  “After lunch, let's come back and do it again,” Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez joked.

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 …

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 …

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.

Can Dodgers' Kershaw win 300 games?  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  The 2002 Braves were the most recent team with the rarest of attributes — two eventual 300-game winners on the same pitching staff: Greg Maddux, who reached the milestone two years later, and Tom Glavine, who followed in 2007.

Indians OF Grady Sizemore to miss 8-12 weeks  —  CLEVELAND - Grady Sizemore will start the season in a familiar spot - on the disabled list.  —  The oft-injured Cleveland Indians outfielder is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks with a back injury, the latest medical setback for a three …

Cards sign Molina to five-year, $75M extension  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a five-year, $75 million contract with four-time Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina.  —  The team announced the details Thursday.  The contract begins next year and will keep Molina in St. Louis through the 2017 season.