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 …

Andy Pettitte Signs Deal With Yankees  —  TAMPA, Fla. — On a day when the Yankees showed concern over Derek Jeter's approaching 38th birthday and tightness in his calf, they brought back into the fold an even older Andy Pettitte, signing the veteran left-handed pitcher to a minor league contract.

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 …

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.

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.

Heyward hits grand slam to back Hanson  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jason Heyward's first-inning grand slam off Wandy Rodriguez propelled the Braves to a 9-5 win over the Astros at Champion Stadium on Friday night.  —  Rodriguez retired the first two batters he faced before allowing five two-out hits in a five-run first inning.

Danks pitches four innings, drives in two runs  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Daniel Hudson turned in a solid outing for the D-backs as they beat the White Sox, 4-2, on Friday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd at Salt River Fields.  —  The D-backs took a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to Geoff Blum's two-out …

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 …

Loney goes deep, Lilly goes four scoreless  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — James Loney slugged a three-run homer and Ted Lilly tossed four scoreless innings as the Dodgers beat the Rangers on Friday, 5-2.  —  Loney followed a second-inning leadoff double by Andre Ethier and a walk to Juan Rivera …

Rizzo, Lalli club homers against Giants  —  MESA, Ariz. — Aubrey Huff hit a tiebreaking RBI single in a two-run fourth to spark the Giants to a 3-2 victory Friday over the Cubs in front of 13,245, the largest crowd this spring at HoHoKam Park.  —  Chicago's Matt Garza, making his third start, had his longest outing this spring.

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 …