Alex Rios missed a third straight day of Cactus League action Monday, getting scratched from the lineup against the Angels with continued lower back stiffness. The White Sox right fielder first felt something in his back while lifting weights on Saturday, and he left the Camelback Ranch complex Monday morning to get it checked out.

Angels reliever Ryan Madson threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Monday, ramping up the intensity to an estimated 70-80 percent.

News that the Brewers were on the verge of adding a free agent from a fierce division rival was met with glee in Milwaukee’s Spring Training clubhouse on Monday, as word spread that former Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse had agreed to a multiyear contract.

The Blue Jays will be without third baseman Brett Lawrie for at least the first four games of the regular season. Toronto announced on Monday morning that Lawrie will begin the year on the 15-day disabled list.

What’s up with the Yankees? And the Red Sox? And Kyle Lohse? Here are nine unknowns as Spring Training winds down and Opening Day approaches.

Despite persistent pain from a fractured right small toe, Carlos Beltran said he plans to play through the discomfort and take the field for Tuesday’s game against the Mets. Doing so without any further setback would certainly boost Beltran’s chances of being able to start the season off the disabled list.

In this week’s Draft Watch, attention turned to the West, where a pair of SoCal prep lefties faced off.

Tugging on a Yankees cap, Chien-Ming Wang said on Monday that it felt just like old times to go through the paces of a workout at the club’s Minor League complex. Wang returned to the Yankees last week, having shown enough promise during his World Baseball Classic stint with Chinese Taipei to warrant a Minor League contract.

MLB has launched a new campaign to usher in the 2013 season, showcasing the intensity and passion of the game’s young stars while illustrating what drives them to succeed and highlighting their desire to lead their team to the postseason.

MLB has launched a new campaign to usher in the 2013 season, showcasing the intensity and passion of the game’s young stars while illustrating what drives them to succeed and highlighting their desire to lead their team to the postseason.

The Nationals are the patriotic choice to win the World Series, but do they have the talent on their roster to go all the way? Meanwhile, many other teams have their sights on heading deep into October, which makes for a lively discussion when it comes to the MLB.com Power Rankings.

There is a long list of players who are without Minor League options and could find themselves in a different uniform by Opening Day once final cuts are made around baseball.

Find “Scott” in a ballpark Tagoramic shot for a chance to win the Scotts Ultimate Home Field Advantage Sweepstakes grand prize of a $25,000 backyard makeover.

You could call it the Nationals League East. As everyone knows, though, games aren’t played on paper. Before the postseason invitations are passed out, there will be countless twists and turns that can’t possibly be foreseen.

The Yankees and Angels are closing in on a deal that will fit 34-year-old outfielder Vernon Wells for pinstripes, sources have confirmed to MLB.com, and the trade could be completed on Monday pending approval from the Commissioner’s Office because of the amount of money involved.

Bryce Harper and Mike Trout did much more than just win awards. It’s difficult to imagine any two rookies, this year or in the future, coming close to matching that dynamic duo in terms of star power and wow factor. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some exciting rookies to watch for this year. There are.

Ah, the speculation. It’s what fuels the rumor mill every offseason. Plenty of names will be bandied about in the coming months as the season rolls on, with contending teams attempting to bolster their rosters for the stretch run and the rest of the pack looking to build for the future.