Mets, Madoff trustee settle for $162M  —  NEW YORK — The New York Mets owners and a trustee for Bernard Madoff's fraud victims settled Monday for $162 million in a case aimed at undoing the damage from a massive investment scheme.  —  The Mets owners will not pay anything for three years.

Kershaw Works Into 6th Inning on 24th Birthday  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched into the sixth inning on his 24th birthday for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-3 loss Monday to the Cleveland Indians.  —  The NL Cy Young Award winner allowed one run — his first this spring — and three singles over 5 1-3 innings.

Tigers' Cabrera hit in face by bad-hop grounder  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Miguel Cabrera left Monday's game with a bloody face after a hard grounder from Philadelphia's Hunter Pence hit him near the right eye.  —  Cabrera was wearing sunglasses and it's uncertain whether the wicked one-hopper hit the right lens or just under it.

Utley leaving camp to see specialist  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Chase Utley has left Phillies camp to see a specialist as his chronically injured right knee is not healthy enough to take the field, almost certainly meaning he will not play come opening day.  —  The Phillies released …

Yu throws eventful four innings in third start  —  Rangers righty fans four, walks three, allows one hit on 70 pitches  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Yu Darvish had stretches in which he showed pinpoint command and the baffling arsenal of pitches that have made him a Japanese legend at the age of 25.

Beltran Hits 1st HR for Cards in 4-3 Win  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Carlos Beltran hit his first home run for the St. Louis Cardinals, a leadoff drive off Julio Teheran in the sixth inning during Monday's 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves.  —  Beltran, who signed a free agent after splitting …

Maddux: Didn't pull out of running for Cubs manager  —  Says Sveum deserved job  —  Mike Maddux (Phil Velasquez/Tribune photo)  —  LAS VEGAS — Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux denied pulling out of the running for the Cubs managerial vacancy before the Cubs gave the job to Dale Sveum.

Giancarlo Stanton, still not running, hoping to return by April 1 at latest  —  Caught up this morning with Marlins right fielder Stanton, who said his sore left knee is not feeling any better.  —  “It's the same,” said Stanton, who hasn't played since March 11.

Jon Lester to start Opening Day  —  FORT MYERS — It's official: Jon Lester [stats] will be the Red Sox [team stats]' Opening Day starter.  Josh Beckett [stats], meanwhile, will start the home-opener April 13 at Fenway Park [map] against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rockies' lineup includes Blake, Hoffman elects free agency  —  SCOTTSDALE — There will be a popular veteran returning from neck surgery making news day.  —  Alas, it's not Peyton Manning.  Ladies and gentleman (or those three relatives not reading First and Orange blog), we present to you third baseman Casey Blake.

Superstar Votto expresses fondness for both Reds, very long deals  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — If the Blue Jays stick to their five-year maximum policy for player contracts, they can forget luring Reds superstar Joey Votto back home to Toronto when he's a free agent.

Soria leaves game with sore elbow after another rough outing  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ. — The growing concern regarding Royals closer Joakim Soria escalated sharply Sunday afternoon when he left a game against Cleveland because of a sore right elbow after another ineffective performance.

Tough day for Ross in first spring start  —  LAS VEGAS — Rookie left-hander Robbie Ross, who has emerged as a candidate for the bullpen, made his first start of the spring on Sunday against the Brewers in Phoenix and was roughed up.  He lasted just 2 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits.

Morse, LaRoche out of game action for a week  —  VIERA, Fla. — Nationals outfielder Michael Morse and first baseman Adam LaRoche are not expected to play in a Major League Spring Training game for at least a week.  —  Morse, who has played just three games during the Grapefruit League season, has a strained right lat [back] muscle.

Nova settles down after early hiccup  —  SARASOTA, Fla. — Adam Jones and Matt Wieters went deep in the first inning — the first home runs of the spring for each — to lead the Orioles to a 6-3 victory over the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium on Sunday night.  —  After Endy Chavez led off …