Zack Greinke to get elbow examination and more top stories

"The Dodgers sent pitcher Zack Greinke to Los Angeles on Monday for an examination of his right elbow.

Greinke complained of irritation in the elbow while throwing on Sunday. The Dodgers sent him to Dr. Neal El Attrache for what the team called a "precautionary exam" ordered out of an "abundance of caution."

The Dodgers signed Greinke for $147 million last winter, making him the highest-paid right-handed pitcher in major-league history. He has no previous history of elbow trouble."

Source: LAtimes.com

David Ortiz likely to start season on DL

"David Ortiz said today that he wasn't surprised to learn that there was inflammation in his heels, particularly the left, given how he has felt in recent weeks.

The Red Sox slugger has been shut down for at least a week and is now likely to start the season on the disabled list. He has yet to play in a spring training game.

"I knew there was something that was not normal," Ortiz said today. "I was getting pain four or five hours after I was finished with my workout. I knew something wasn't right."

Ortiz said he spoke to the team's medical staff about his concerns and they agreed that an MRI should be taken. That happened on Saturday."

Source: Boston.com

Yankees will rely on Sabathia for 2013 success

"Sabathia took the Steinbrenner Field main mound for what was truly the main event in the Yankees’ world yesterday.

The game was simulated, but not the importance.

Sabathia is probably the most indispensable Yankee — more than ever now because this team is going to rely on pitching in a greater fashion than perhaps any of its last 20 predecessors.

In the recent past, the Yankees could count on their offense to do a fair amount of bludgeoning, especially at home, to inflate their win-loss record. But that strategy is gone for at least April while Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira convalesce, and perhaps all season due to the irreversible impact of injuries and offseason defections."

Source: NYPost.com

Gio Gonzalez to get start for team USA

"Gio Gonzalez munched on chicken wings and shrimp scampi at a sports bar in his hometown as he watched Team USA rally to stay alive in the World Baseball Classic.

The next game he'll take in from the mound. The Washington Nationals' left-hander will start for the United States in its opener of round two Tuesday night against Puerto Rico.

The U.S. team rallied with seven runs in the last two innings Sunday to advance by beating Canada 9-4 in Phoenix.

Gonzalez wasn't with the team in Arizona. He left the Nationals' camp in central Florida before the U.S. game Sunday to make the three-hour drive south.

"I was so confident they were going to win," he said. "I was ready to go."

Gonzalez grew up in Hialeah, a short drive from Marlins Park, the site of the second round."

Source: ESPN.com

Yankees targeting veteran Derek Lee

"No name is off limits as Brian Cashman casts his wide net for potential lineup help. The Yankees' general manager confirmed on Monday that he has reached out to veterans Derrek Lee and Scott Rolen to gauge their interest on playing this season.

Saying that the calls show how "creative we would like to be" in filling the vacancy created by Mark Teixeira's injury, Cashman added that he would also love to fit Chipper Jones for pinstripes, calling the retired Braves icon's demeanor and skill set a "Yankee-type" match.

"Don't you think Chipper would be a perfect fit? Larry?" Cashman said. "I'd take Larry in a heartbeat. I think everybody would. I already know the answer, but I might as well throw it out there anyway."

Source: MLB.com

Rays owner "We can afford David Price"

"It is widely believed that pitcher David Price is about to embark on his final season with the Rays, that the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner is about to price himself out of the market for the low-revenue club, just as Carl Crawford did after 2010 and B.J. Upton and James Shields did after last season.

Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said Sunday that among the members of the team’s front office, that conclusion has not been reached and it is possible for the Rays to keep Price beyond this season.

“Oh yeah, sure,” Sternberg said. “Absolutely.”

But at what cost?

Sternberg acknowledged future payrolls will be hamstrung by the six-year, $100 million extension the team gave in November to third baseman Evan Longoria."

Source: Tampatribune.com

Romero gets grip on struggles

"Ricky Romero can laugh about it now, hisdisastrous 2012, as if it were a time in his life he barely recognizes.

He can handle the good-natured ribbing of new teammate Mark Buehrle, who asked Romero during their first bullpen session if he had walked anybody yet.

Time and off-season surgery have healed the wounds of last season and Romero says he’s looking forward to a brighter 2013."

Source: Thestar.com

Brett Anderson should be ready to start opener

"A's left-hander Brett Anderson said he was feeling a bit stiff Monday, less than 24 hours after he exited a Cactus League game against the Arizona Diamondbacks game after eight pitches following a collision with a baserunner.

Anderson, who has been tabbed as the opening day starter for the A's on April 1 against Seattle, hopes to throw his regular bullpen session on Tuesday and make his next Cactus League start later in the week.

The injury-prone Anderson suffered a strain in his right (non-throwing) shoulder when he tried to cover third base on an error and collided awkwardly with Diamondbacks baserunner Adam Eaton."

Source: Insidebayarea.com