Visa Approved For Yankees' Jose Rafael DePaula  —  A premium prospect who has been involved in one of the longest, most fascinating sagas in the Dominican Republic has taken a major step toward beginning his professional career.  —  Righthander Jose Rafael DePaula, who agreed to sign …

Cook holds Yanks in check at JetBlue Park  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — It might be a year or two before prospect Adam Warren becomes part of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.  But the New York righty got the chance to pitch under the lights of JetBlue Park on Thursday night and made the most of it during a 4-4 tie in nine innings.

Mets' Pelfrey pitching with sprained ankle  —  Mets on Twitter  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Just one more reason it's been a spring training to forget for Mike Pelfrey: He has battled a high ankle sprain for most of camp.  —  The beleaguered Mets right-hander is refusing to use it as an excuse …

2012 Organization Talent Rankings  —  Baseball America's annual organization talent rankings evaluate the overall value of each system's prospect-eligible players (no more than 130 at-bats, 50 innings or 30 relief appearances in the major leagues, without regard to service time).

Dodgers partake in Ping-Pong to unwind  —  Much as on the mound, Kershaw dominates on the table  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — In the middle of the Dodgers' clubhouse at Camelback Ranch-Glendale is a Ping-Pong table.  —  Since a Ping-Pong table helped thaw Cold War relations with China 40 years ago …

Jeff Moorad steps down, Tom Garfinkel to become new Padres CEO  —  OMG.  —  In what looks a lot like a strange switcheroo, Jeff Moorad is going to step down as CEO and become Vice Chairman of the Padres while Tom Garfinkel will move from Padres President to Padres CEO.

Nats pessimistic Morse will start season  —  Michael Morse has appeared in only three games this spring, all as DH.  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Michael Morse's chances of recovering from a lat injury in time for Opening Day appear to be dwindling after the Nationals left fielder recently underwent …

What Should the Yankees Do With Michael Pineda?  —  There probably hasn't been a bigger story in any camp this spring than Michael Pineda's missing velocity.  After throwing 94-97 in Seattle last year, he's been 89-93 so far this spring, though he did pump a few 94 MPH fastballs in his most recent start on Tuesday.

Utley set to rejoin Phillies in camp  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Chase Utley could rejoin the team Friday in Clearwater.  —  He left the team Monday — he had been spotted this week in the Phoenix area — to visit an unnamed specialist about the chronic condition in his knees.

Cards' Garcia strikes out nine in dominant outing  —  JUPITER, Fla.—St. Louis manager Mike Matheny liked what he saw from Jaime Garcia on Thursday.  —  Garcia struck out nine in five innings and the Cardinals roughed up Gio Gonzalez in a 9-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

Weaver off against KC, but bats pick up ace  —  Morales has two hits in return; Aybar, Kendrick pace offense  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Kendrys Morales had two hits in his first Major League game since May 2010, Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick stayed hot at the top of the order …