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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Howard HR Exits Stadium in Phils' 13-5 Win  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Howard hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Brett Cecil that cleared the back fence and went out of Bright House Field, helping a Philadelphia Phillies' split squad beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-5 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 …

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.