Scouts see pluses for new-look Sox  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  Scouts have infiltrated southwest Florida and laid their eyes upon the Red Sox [team stats].  —  Here are a few of their observations, beginning with the No. 1 development of the Red Sox' spring:

Left-hander Garrett Olson wants to head north  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On road trips, the left-handed reliever likes to sneak away, stealing a moment for himself in the cheap seats.  Accompanied by his Nikon D700, he sets up shop high above home plate.  —  Garrett Olson chooses a lens.

Yoenis Cespedes was very close to being a Cub  —  PHOENIX — Cuban superstar Yoenis Cespedes said he was willing to sign with the Cubs and had reason to believe this winter that he might wind up in Chicago.  —  The bottom line, Cespedes told the Sun-Times on Saturday, was that the Cubs offered six years …

Reds cut 16  —  The Reds cut 16 players today.  —  IF Kristopher Negron, IF Neftali Soto, RHP Josh Judy; IF Didi Gregorius, IF Henry Rodriguez, RHP Pedro Villarreal; IF/OF Donald Lutz and RHP Kyle Lotzkar were optioned.  —  C Tucker Barnhart, RHP Nick Christiani, RHP Daniel Corcino …

Firmly in place, Lucchino is up for the challenge  —  Larry Lucchino expects to be with the Red Sox for years to come.  —  While the team's president/CEO may not have officially signed a new deal, he said, “I've reached an understanding on it, for the most part.  I'll just leave it at that.

Rivera Throws Scoreless Inning as Yanks Top Astros  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mariano Rivera makes spring training look like a breeze,  —  Rivera threw his third consecutive scoreless inning in the New York Yankees' 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday.  —  “I feel good,” Rivera said.

Could La Russa end up with Dodgers?  —  There's just one problem with Tony La Russa becoming a key decision-maker for the Los Angeles Dodgers if Steve Cohen succeeds in buying the club.  —  La Russa is such a strong personality, his presence might diminish the Dodgers' chances of hiring …

Yankees' Garcia not thrilled about fellow veteran Pettitte's return  —  TAMPA — With memories of postseasons past dancing in their heads, many of Andy Pettitte's former teammates welcomed the news of his return to the Yankees.  —  “Andy can help us big- time,” said Mariano Rivera …

Betancourt moves into picture at second  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Yuniesky Betancourt has put himself in the running for the Royals' second-base job, along with Johnny Giavotella and Chris Getz.  —  Betancourt started at second base in Saturday night's game against the Padres for further evaluation.

Cruz's homer helps Dodgers tie Giants  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brandon Belt homered and hit a game-knotting sacrifice fly Saturday night in a 3-3 split-squad tie at Camelback Ranch before a Cactus League-record 13,655 fans.  —  Belt's two-run wind-blown home run into the Dodgers bullpen gave …

Rockies roster depends on fifth starter, four or five outfielders  —  There aren't more openings, just increased options to address them.  The Rockies' roster, of course, is the topic.  A scout jokingly offered me $100 the other day if I could correctly predict the Rockies' 25-man club right now.

Lifetime Rockie Todd Helton isn't ready to hang up his cleats  —  First baseman Todd Helton isn't ready to hang up his cleats — or give up on winning a World Series ring  —  Rockies fans young and old want a Todd Helton autograph, and he obliges prior to a spring training game in Scottsdale.

Phillies stop Jays in extra innings  —  Hector Luna's RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Philadelphia Phillies over a Toronto Blue Jays split squad 4-3 on Saturday.  —  Brian Bocock hit a go-ahead solo homer in the top of the ninth, but Freddy Galvis answered with a solo shot in the bottom half.