Over the course of Gordon Beckham's 2011 offensive struggles, amateur hitting coaches around Chicago and across the Internet dissected Beckham's plate approach against his better times dating back even to his Georgia days.

The Yankees avoided arbitration with their lone remaining eligible player on Thursday, inking left-handed reliever Boone Logan to a one-year, $1.87 million contract.

For nearly two decades, Gary Carter set the standard for big league catchers, and "Kid Sunshine" was every bit as good as a person as he was as a player.

The Nationals agreed to terms with reliever Brad Lidge on a one-year, $1 million contract Thursday. Teams such as the Rockies and Phillies expressed interest in Lidge, but he joined the Nats after having great conversations with general manager Mike Rizzo.

Before baseball returns to the Bay Area, San Francisco will host a St. Patrick's Day soccer doubleheader.

A burgeoning team Hall of Fame is about to gain another member. The Mets on Thursday announced plans to induct former closer John Franco into their Hall of Fame this summer, making Franco their fifth new inductee in three years.

Call it an encore. Call it a finale. But whatever you call Tim Flannery's concert Saturday night, make sure you know it's another sincere effort to help Bryan Stow, who has become inextricably linked with the Giants.

It's been an unusual offseason for Brandon Phillips, who will be a free agent after the 2012 season. But he's focused on winning a title in Cincinnati.

Despite the mega deals signed by fellow first basemen Albert Pujols and Prince Field this offseason, Reds CEO Bob Castellini didn't rule out Cincinnati making the effort to sign Joey Votto to an extension.

Not since 2003, when the Red Sox coughed up the American League pennant to the Yankees as manager Grady Little decided to leave Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series have there been so many questions in Boston.

The rationale for having a sport with two sets of rules has been that it allows the National League to maintain its identity. The problem is, that identity helps the American League take away stars like Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez.

Four graduates of Major League Baseball's Puerto Rico Baseball Academy & High School will be starting their freshman year of college when the fifth annual Urban Invitational takes place in Houston in February.

While the Yankees won't have veteran Jorge Posada or top prospect Jesus Montero in 2012, the future remains bright behind the plate — and in other areas — for the organization.

Prince Fielder's Brewers home runs do not tell the whole story of a player known, yes, for his power, but also for a personality that alternated between fiery and fun-loving, for playing every day, and for more than any other single player marking the Brewers' return to respectability.

With two dominant years under his belt through just his age-24 season, Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is off to one of the best career starts for any switch-hitter in big league history.

In about a month, the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez and the Angels' Mark Trumbo will arrive for Spring Training and take grounders at third base, moves their clubs are making to keep their big bats productive and active.

Looking to supplement their rotation with extra depth, the Reds reached a Minor League deal late Wednesday with left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis.