Usually, if you mention the word “abuse” to a pitcher, he thinks of appearances in many different roles and the pain that goes with it, then he heads in the other direction. Miguel Batista just laughs and signs the contract.

Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived at Indians camp and underwent a lengthy physical, which is the final step in completing his Minor League contract with the club. The club is expected to officially announce the signing on Wednesday.

There are things the San Francisco Giants did that everyone can appreciate. These are basic baseball fundamentals that can be measured and replayed, fundamentals that show up in the box score to be debated and admired.

The new Dodgers ownership has demonstrated it will do things beyond the wildest imagination in the name of winning. But after welcoming pitchers and catchers to Spring Training on Tuesday, Don Mattingly said he’s not changing his approach to managing.

Lefty starter Joe Saunders officially signed a one-year Major League deal with the Mariners on Tuesday and first baseman/outfielder Mike Carp was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

General manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers are still looking outside the organization for a possible utility infielder who can play shortstop, but candidates may be reluctant to sign with the club because playing time is limited behind its incumbent All-Stars.

The Rangers have acknowledged that outfielder Nelson Cruz is part of an MLB investigation into a Miami wellness clinic that allegedly sold performance-enhancing drugs, but Daniels said the Rangers have heard very little from the league on the subject.

Though Tommy John surgery was just around the corner, Brett Anderson did find solace away from the mound in the days leading up to his major operation in 2011. Such comfort was tucked away in the kitchen.

Few people in baseball know reliever Heath Bell like D-backs general manager Kevin Towers. Towers was the Padres GM who let closer Trevor Hoffman leave via free agency and replaced him with Bell. And it was Towers who acquired Bell this winter after the right-hander had a disastrous 2012 season with the Marlins.

Tim Hudson wants to end his career with the Braves, but as he enters the last year of his contract, he understands that this could be his final season in Atlanta.

There’s not much more that John Danks could have accomplished during his rehab since Aug. 6 arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder. But the veteran southpaw realizes a real test for his recovery will come from facing hitters.

Jaime Garcia, whose 2012 season was dotted with shoulder problems, garnered a substantial amount of attention on Tuesday when he took the mound for a bullpen session as part of the Cardinals’ first official workout. Of interest, of course, is the health of the team’s only left-handed starter.

While acknowledging that there has been recent dialogue between the sides, general manager John Mozeliak said on Tuesday that the Cardinals and right-hander Adam Wainwright are not close to reaching an agreement on a contract extension.

After Miguel Montero criticized Trevor Bauer on Saturday at D-backs’ FanFest, the young pitcher responded, attempting to turn the page Tuesday at the Indians’ Spring Training complex.

Work officially was under way for the jazzed-up Royals, with their pitching enhanced by the addition of starters James Shields, Wade Davis and Ervin Santana, as well as the retention of Jeremy Guthrie.

As Spring Training began, Toronto took stock of injuries and began introductions among this year’s players, many of them new, who enter the season with high expectations.

Formerly archrivals as members of the Yankees and Red Sox, respectively, Nick Swisher and Terry Francona represent just two prongs of a serious Tribe makeover that includes former Orioles first baseman Mark Reynolds and will place free-agent signing Michael Bourn in center field by the end of the week.