PADRES: Club “very close” to contract extension with Maybin  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Cameron Maybin is poised to wear a Padres uniform for several seasons to come.  —  A front office source confirmed Saturday morning the Padres and Maybin are “very close” to finalizing a long-term contract …

Alex Rodriguez steps up to challenge Yankees  —  TAMPA, Fla. - On the morning of the first game they'd play since Game 5, the night the New York Yankees all went home for the winter, Alex Rodriguez stood before them and, according to witnesses, gave the sort of speech that wouldn't have been possible five years ago.

Joyce, Price impressive in Rays' spring opener  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau both delivered RBI singles to help lead the Twins to a 7-3 win over the Rays on Saturday at Hammond Stadium in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams.  —  Matt Joyce, named an All-Star …

Axford, Brewers will keep talking  —  The Brewers renewed closer John Axford's contract for $525,000 on Saturday but will continue discussions about a multiyear contract extension, assistant general manager Gord Ash said.  —  Friday marked the start of a 10-day period in which teams could …

MLB expands playoff format from 8 teams to 10  —  NEW YORK, N.Y. - With less than a month to go before opening day, baseball at last decided who's in and who's out come October.  —  Now, even a third-place team can win the World Series.  —  Major League Baseball made it official Friday …

Pirates agree to terms with 25 for 2012 season  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates on Saturday morning announced they reached contract agreements with 25 players, bringing their entire 40-man roster into the fold.  —  The deadline to negotiate contracts and to automatically renew …

Replacing the Duncan trunks  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • This vast traveling library lived in a red, wheeled trunk that was modeled after an equipment box that was once re-engineered to have a secret compartment for stashing booze during prohibition.  —  Hiding goodies goes with the job.

SINGLE GAME TICKET ONSALE  —  3 Ways to Purchase Single Game Tickets  —  MasterCard® First Chance Presale online at Cubs.com  —  2. Friday, March 9, at 8 a.m. CST  —  In person at Wrigley Field (wristbands only — see wristbands details below)  —  3. Friday, March 9, at 10 a.m. CST

Mets Scratch Wright With Left Side Soreness  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets third baseman David Wright was scratched from the lineup for the intrasquad game on Saturday because of soreness on his left side.  —  The Mets say he has stiffness near his ribcage and will be replaced by Zach Lutz in the lineup.

Pitching prospects Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia have NY Mets armed for future  —  Mets can't wait for prospects to pitch in  —  Mets prospect Jeurys Familia impresses batters and Mets wth two scoreless innings.  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — An intrasquad game without a single projected starter in either lineup?

Mets having fun as they try to improve ‘D’  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — First comes the familiar slap of the fungo bat, followed closely by the voice of Ike Davis.  —  “Nice one, Rabbit.”  “C'mon, Captain Ron.”  And finally, “Let's go, Forrest.”  —  So what, or more precisely whom, is Davis talking about?