ST. LOUIS  • All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran finalized a two-year deal with the Cardinals on Thursday evening, a source familiar with the negotiations confirmed to the Post-Dispatch.  —  The switch-hitting outfielder brings some desired depth to the Cardinals outfield while also restoring …

Derek Jeter out with calf injury  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter has an injured left calf that will keep him out of spring training until at least next week.  —  Jeter, who will turn 38 in June, missed nearly a month last season in his pursuit of 3,000 hits with an injury to his right calf.

Pitching hard to gauge based just on spring training  —  TAMPA — Let's go back exactly a year so we can appreciate just what an inexact science it is to predict baseball, in general, and what a rotation will do, in particular.  —  We just knew in the aftermath of Cliff Lee's spurning …

Salvador Perez out 3-4 months after knee surgery; Royals interested in Ivan Rodriguez?  —  So much for Salvador Perez only missing a few weeks.  —  Perez underwent his scheduled knee surgery today and the Royals announced afterward that he's expected to be out for 12-14 weeks, which would mean a mid-June return at the earliest.

Phillies release Willis  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies have released Dontrelle Willis, the enigmatic lefthander who was attempting to revive his career as a reliever.  —  He was plagued by ineffectiveness and arm soreness during the first four weeks of camp.

Marte sets tone as Correia remains scoreless  —  Outfielder leads off with HR; righty allows a double in four frames  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Kevin Correia extended his scoreless spring to nine innings and Starling Marte's homer started the scoring against Cliff Lee as the Pirates downed the Phillies …

Red Sox Agree To $800,000 Deal With Dominican Righty Simon Mercedes  —  The Red Sox have agreed to a deal with Dominican righthander Simon Mercedes, which according to an international source is for an $800,000 bonus.  —  However, that deal is still pending several hurdles …

Nick Leyva: Positioning the Pirates Infield  —  Nick Leyva is heading into his 36th season of professional baseball, but when it comes to positioning an infield, he isn't as old-school as you might think.  The Pirates' third base coach still uses his instincts and experience …

Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton confident he'll be ready opening day  —  Just caught up with Giancarlo Stanton, who said he hopes to play in a Grapefruit League game again some time next week.  —  Stanton hasn't played since last Sunday when he was hit on the left wrist by a pitch.

Wang strains hamstring while fielding vs. Yanks  —  Nats right-hander stumbles attempting to record out at first base  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang left Thursday's game against the Yankees in the third inning after falling down while running toward first base after fielding a ground ball.