Source: Chris Sale agrees to deal  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago White Sox and left-handed pitcher Chris Sale have agreed in principle on a five-year contract extension worth as much as $60 million, according to a league source.  —  Sale will receive $35 million guaranteed …

Rivera To Retire After 2013 Season  —  12:03pm: The Yankees have a 10am EDT press conference scheduled Saturday at which Rivera is set to announce that he'll retire following the 2013 season, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (Twitter links).  —  11:03am: Yankees closer Mariano Rivera …

Cards SS Furcal to have Tommy John surgery  —  JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal will have major surgery on his right elbow next week.  —  The team did not say in its statement Thursday how long the three-time All-Star will be out.

Happy Crawford says of Boston: 'They love it when you're miserable'  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dodgers are telling Carl Crawford to be patient.  He's saying that playing on opening day remains his goal.  —  “I want to be there bad,” Crawford said Thursday morning, after a workday that was limited to 50 swings off a tee.

Italy scores two in ninth to stun Mexico at World Baseball Classic  —  Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run double off San Francisco Giants closer Sergio Romo in the ninth inning and Jason Grilli escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half to help Italy rally to beat Mexico 6-5 in the opening game …

Youth is not wasted on the rebuilding Miami Marlins  —  During spring training, major-league teams ordinarily arrange players' lockers in the clubhouse according to a variety of factors, including friendships, seniority, position and, sometimes, mentorship.  In Port St. Lucie, Fla. …

NY Mets could have moved Jon Niese instead of R.A. Dickey; Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner speaks  —  Here's a good New York baseball debate for you: Would you have rather traded Jon Niese, instead of R.A. Dickey, to Toronto for Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard?  —  Turns out that the Mets had that choice.

This patchwork Bombers squad may get bad reviews  —  TAMPA — Here is all you need to know about the state of these 2013 Yankees:  —  Remember the team captain?  The guy who turns 39 in June and faces over a century of data that players his age shouldn't be patrolling shortstop anymore?

Jon Daniels says Texas Rangers never offered him Nolan Ryan's CEO position  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - Rangers GM and president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said Thursday morning he was never offered the opportunity to be the team's Chief Executive Officer, a title Nolan Ryan currently holds.

Orioles Eyeing Dodgers Starters  —  The Orioles are among the teams eyeing Aaron Harang, and he's not the only Dodgers starter who has captured the attention of Baltimore's decision makers.  The Orioles are also scouting trade candidates Ted Lilly and Chris Capuano, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (on Twitter).

In any inning, or weather, Coke focuses on own game  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — If there was ever a good day for Phil Coke to say he will focus only on what he can control, Wednesday was it.  —  On a day with gusty winds and a cloudless sky, where every fly ball at Joker Marchant Stadium became an adventure …