Nolan Ryan could leave Rangers by the end of spring training, sources say  —  Yes, there's been a shift of power in Arlington, which may or may not be the same as a power struggle, but the end result is the same.  —  Either way, Jon Daniels wins and a guy named Rick George wins …

Will San Jose sue the San Francisco Giants to allow the Oakland A's to move south?  —  SAN JOSE — The A's attempted journey to San Jose continues at the speed of Pablo Sandoval.  As he tries to steal home.  While carrying Bruce Bochy on his back.  —  In other words, the slowness …

Rizzo eager to join Team Italy, prepare for Classic  —  MESA, Ariz. — Anthony Rizzo received a few text messages from family members in Italian after he was named to Team Italy for the World Baseball Classic.  The Cubs first baseman should be able to reply with more than “buon giorno” after his stint with the international squad.

Red Sox' Dustin Pedroia: Baseball should pursue cheaters  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox players will hold their annual meeting with representatives of the Major League Baseball Players Association on Monday morning.  If previous meetings at other camps are an indication …

Black looks back on 2009 Richard-Peavy trade  —  Padres manager nostalgic about right-hander's time in San Diego  —  SAN DIEGO — There was a slight twinge of nostalgia Sunday for Padres manager Bud Black each time he glanced at the mound and saw Jake Peavy digging to make a pitch.

Was there a better way for Red Sox to spend?  —  There are different ways to construct a baseball team, and the Red Sox chose their own interesting path for 2013.  So far they have succeeded in protecting their second pick by not going after a free agent requiring compensation, instead using older …

Matheny has ruptured disc, might have surgery  —  • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285  —  VIERA, Fla.  • The cause of persistent back pain and numbness for Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is more severe than initially described, he confirmed Sunday.

WAR stat in baseball is complete nonsense  —  Was Mike Trout the best all-around player in baseball last year?  —  You kidding?  Who doesn't know that?  No one combined offensive and defensive skill to the extent he did.  It's barely a debatable topic.  —  So why is there no American …

Rondon shaky; Tigers GM says club not eyeing another closer — yet  —  The Tigers may not have a closer issue yet, but they could be working toward one if hard-throwing 22-year-old Bruce Rondon doesn't find the strike zone.  —  There have been hints out of Tigers camp that longtime manager Jim Leyland …

Cuba Beats China 12-0 In Nearly Empty Stadium  —  FUKUOKA, Japan—In a nearly empty stadium that had the energy of a library, Cuba trounced China 12-0, invoking the mercy rule after the top of the seventh inning to improve to 2-0 in the first round of the World Baseball Classic.

Mike Piazza's chances at Mets' Hall of Fame a ‘Long Shot’?  —  When John Buck changed out of his uniform and into workout clothes after Saturday's game at Tradition Field, he put on a blue T-shirt with the No. 31 across the chest.  —  The circle emblem, with a pinstriped background …

Kyle Lohse not completely off Rangers' radar  —  SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Cactus League games have been played for nine days so far this year, which isn't even a quarter of the Texas Rangers' schedule in the longest spring in club history.  —  No one knows better than club personnel, and the media …