Transition year looming for Cards?  —  Shortstop Rafael Furcal is finished.  Rather than putting off the inevitable any longer, Furcal will undergo Tommy John surgery and depart the Cardinal radar screen.  —  That nagging storyline has finally run its course.  The franchise moves on.

Melvin back to work after scorpion sting  —  PHOENIX — At this rate, general managers will need their own disabled list.  —  Brewers GM Doug Melvin was back in his office by 8 a.m. MT on Thursday after being stung by a scorpion Wednesday night.  Just three days earlier …

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 …

Mariano Rivera to retire after season  —  JUPITER, Fla. — New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is expected to announce Saturday that he will retire after the coming season, according to sources.  —  The announcement will come at 10 a.m. ET from the Yankees' spring training camp in Tampa.

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.

As broken leg heals, Yankees GM Brian Cashman seems content to sit and wait out injuries to Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and others  —  Even though it's spring, when GMs supposedly make only garbage-dumping deals, the word is the Padres are starting to listen to offers for Headley …

King Felix makes spring debut, solves Royals  —  Final  —  Recap  —  Box Score  —  Conversation  —  Mariners' Felix Hernandez helps hand Royals 1st spring loss  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Felix Hernandez waited almost two weeks to get in a game for the Seattle Mariners.

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. …

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 …

Young completes community service  —  CLEARWATER, FLA.  —  By May, as long as Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Delmon Young remains on good behavior, his name will be cleared.  —  Young, 27, was charged with a hate crime last April after he shouted an anti-semitic slur while intoxicated …

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).

Aubrey Huff to the Yankees?  Not happening  —  When Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira went down with with a sprained wrist, Aubrey Huff's name was tossed about as a possible fill-in, but that is not going to happen.  —  “I'm pretty much retired,” Huff just said by phone.