Mets Owners Told to Pay Illegal Madoff Profits  —  The New York Mets owners have to give up as much as $83 million in illegal profits from Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme and face a trial over another $303 million of their own money to determine if they acted in bad faith, a judge ruled.

Extension Candidate: Neil Walker  —  With Andrew McCutchen's extension completed, the Pirates will focus their attention on second baseman Neil Walker, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.  Biertempfel believes a Walker extension may be “pricier than they originally expected,” but the team will still pony up.

Legends enhance new day  —  Red Sox christen yet another first  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Our fathers had Dominic DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Ted Williams; the greatest ballplayers for the Greatest Generation, “The Teammates” who stand together forever in bronze outside Fenway Park's Gate B on Van Ness Street.

Don Mincher, long-time baseball figure, dies at 73  —  HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Don Mincher, the gentlemanly figure synonymous with Huntsville baseball for a half-century, died Sunday after a long illness.  He was 73.  —  Crowned in 2010 as “King of Baseball,” the highest honor in Minor League Baseball …

Pirates, McCutchen agree on new contract  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates and star center fielder Andrew McCutchen agreed to terms on a six-year contract worth $51.5 million with a club option for 2018 worth $14.75 million, according to a source.  —  The contract will buy …

Valley Fever may not scare Ike Davis or NY Mets, but team must be scared about lack of depth  —  Lack of spending on quality backups screams of financial troubles  —  On a team that can't afford any aches and pains, Mets prospect Zach Lutz is hit by pitch to end intrasquad game.

Inside the Phillies: Phillies trades may prove to be costly  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. - Walk into Bright House Field or Citizens Bank Park on a game day and count the number of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee jerseys.  —  It's understandable that Phillies fans have fallen madly in love with the top …

D-backs-Giants tilt delayed by swarm of bees  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Sunday's D-backs-Giants game at Salt River Fields was delayed for 41 minutes by a swarm of bees.  —  With no score and one out in the top of the second, the Giants, who ended up 11-1 winners, had runners on second and third …

Litsch shut down for six weeks with infection  —  Injection meant to help heal shoulder results in extra procedure  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The string of bad luck for right-hander Jesse Litsch continued this week with yet another setback on his injured right shoulder.

Vargas Sharp in Mariners' 5-4 Win  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Jason Vargas threw four scoreless innings and third baseman Kyle Seager had three hits in the Seattle Mariners' 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.  —  Vargas threw 50 pitches and did not allow a base runner.