Sources: Beckett, Bailey to see specialist  —  The Boston Red Sox continue to say that right-hander Josh Beckett will be fine.  But the pitcher on Tuesday will join teammate Andrew Bailey in Cleveland to see Dr. Robert Graham, a hand specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, according to major-league sources.

Jays Demote Cecil; Call Up Carreno To Start  —  The National Post's John Lott tweeted moments ago that the Toronto Blue Jays have demoted Brett Cecil all the way down to Double A, and have called up Joel Carreno.  Lott believes that Carreno will start the third game of the season in Cleveland …

Joey Votto's Massive Extension Changes the Game  —  Well, I think we've just seen the first piece of fallout from the stunning $2.15 billion purchase of the Dodgers on Wednesday.  With money flowing into MLB at a breakneck pace, the Cincinnati Reds decided to make star first baseman Joey Votto an offer he couldn't refuse.

Another woe: Farnsworth has elbow soreness  —  UPDATE, 2:16: Farnsworth is seeing a doctor today, but the Rays don't expect anything definitive until Wednesday or Thursday.  Best guess, this closer to the opener, is that he lands on the DL.  —  BREAKING: Closer Kyle Farnsworth …

MRI on Frank Francisco's knee is negative  —  The MRI performed on Frank Francisco's knee did not show any damage, SNY's Ron Darling said during today's broadcast.  —  11:35 am: Frank Francisco threw a bullpen session this morning, according to SNY's Matt Dunn.  —  Francisco received a cortisone shot in his knee two days ago.

Rockies' Jason Giambi finds tranquil path on baseball's rocky road  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Serenity is not a word one usually associates with Jason Giambi.  —  Back in the day, Giambi trained hard, played hard and partied hard.  He was a self-described “adrenaline junkie” …

Maddon not afraid to use slugger in No. 2 spot  —  Either Scott or Pena likely to hit second in Rays' batting order  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Joe Maddon has never been one to adhere to conventional wisdom for the sake of adhering to conventional wisdom, which leads to the topic of the Rays' No. 2 spot in the batting order.

Tigers place Inge on 15-day DL with groin strain  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — After all the speculation this spring about Brandon Inge's future with the Tigers, the longest-tenured Tiger will open the season on the disabled list.  The Tigers placed Inge on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain on Tuesday.

When are game seven wins inevitable?  —  Someone interrupted my presentation at the SABR Analytic Conference to tell me that he literally “knew” that the Cardinals were going to win the seventh game of the World Series last year after they broke Texas' heart in Game Six.

Details of Matt Cain's new contract  —  UPDATE FROM HENRY SCHULMAN, REPORTING FROM INTERSTATE 5: As we reported, this is a five-year, $112.5 million extension with club option for 2018 that vests automatically for $21 million if Cain hits an innings target in 2017.

A-Rod drives in 3 to help Yankees beat Marlins 5-2  —  MIAMI—Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs with a double and a sacrifice fly, and the New York Yankees completed a two-game exhibition sweep in the Miami Marlins' new ballpark by winning 5-2 Monday night.

Haren Sharp in Angels' 12-3 Win Over Dodgers  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Dan Haren pitched 5 2-3 solid innings in his final spring tuneup, Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer, and the Angels beat the Dodgers 12-3 Monday night in the opener of a three-game series that will end the exhibition schedule for both Los Angeles teams.

Greinke mum on Cain comparison  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke had no trouble giving an honest assessment of the “meatballs” he threw at the Chicago White Sox on Monday.  But when the questions turned off the field, to the competitor with the big, new contract, he got quiet.