Robinson Cano has won a World Series with the Yankees. But even beating the Phillies in 2009 may not top what the Dominican Republic is attempting to do now in the World Baseball Classic.

Felix Hernandez gave up a solo homer in three innings of work in his second spring start as the Mariners dropped a 5-4 decision to the D-backs on Tuesday. Hector Noesi allowed a three-run homer in another tough outing for the right-hander.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman delivered an SOS through reporters earlier this week to Chipper Jones and to others in search of help for his team’s injury-depleted roster on a short-term basis.

After giving up seven runs to a light Detroit lineup on Tuesday, Roy Halladay insists that he is fine. According to the righty, this outing can be chalked up to lethargy, as his training program has been more intense lately. The Phillies, depending on him to bolster their rotation this season, hope that he is right.

Nelson Cruz’s two-out, opposite-field single punctuated a three-run seventh inning that rallied the heavily favored Dominican squad to a 5-4 win over Italy on Tuesday afternoon in Round 2 of the World Baseball Classic.

Miguel Montero was back in D-backs camp on Tuesday, but it may take a little while for his smile to return. Montero, along with Martin Prado and Gerardo Parra, spent the past week with the Venezuelan team in the World Baseball Classic.

When D-backs outfielder Adam Eaton homered Monday, he nearly passed pitcher Trevor Cahill, who was on base at the time. It doesn’t even seem right to call it a home run “trot” for Eaton, it’s more like a sprint.

Astros owner Jim Crane envisions a Spring Training home where his organization shares the facility with another team, limiting travel and building a fan base in a densely populated area.

The stamp that Mariano Rivera has made on the Yankees organization cannot be measured by his record-setting save totals or by witnessing the magnificent cutter that has proved lethal for so many Louisville Sluggers across the years.

Matt Harrison is back on track. The Rangers have even likely put him on track to be their Opening Day starter even though they have not made an official announcement.

Part of Brett Lawrie’s maturation at the big league level has been learning how to deal with injuries. The Blue Jays’ energetic third baseman sometimes appears ready to run through walls in order to make a big play. There are plenty of benefits with that style, but there are also some negatives.

Jhonny Peralta was back in the lineup on Tuesday against the Phillies after having an allergic reaction to clam chowder before Monday’s game. He went 1-for-4 with a single and a run scored

A tried-and-true philosophy for White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has been to find that perfect mix of veterans and youth so that the roster doesn’t get too old or stagnant.

With crutches on both arms and braces on legs that are numb from the knee down, a side effect of the cancer in his hip, Brewers Minor League coach Al LeBoeuf ambled to the batting cage early Tuesday morning and created a stir.

Michael Saunders’ standout performance in the World Baseball Classic earned him MVP honors in Pool D and now the Mariners outfielder hopes to carry that confidence into the regular season.

The A’s hope to have their closer back in less than a week. Right-hander Grant Balfour, who underwent minor knee surgery on Feb. 14, threw to hitters for the first time since his operation on Tuesday and is gearing up to make his Cactus League debut by Monday.

Barry Zito had one main goal in mind when he founded Strikeouts For Troops in 2005: to help wounded soldiers returning from war by increasing awareness for what they go through both when they’re fighting overseas and when they come home, injured and looking to rebuild their lives.