If Juan Francisco stays healthy for the Reds, he should again by a viable alternative at third base to 37-year-old Scott Rolen and his problematic left shoulder.

Tyler Chatwood spent most of last season in the Majors at 21, some say before his time. But after being acquired by the Rockies, Chatwood suddenly finds himself with pitchers close to his age, all trying to prove that young is not too young.

It has been said countless times, but the old baseball adage remains relevant as another season approaches. "Any good team," Indians starter Justin Masterson said, "it starts with the pitching."

The Mets confirmed Thursday that they have hired the consulting group involved in the Rangers' bankruptcy sale earlier this year, stressing that they have engaged the firm "to provide services with financial reporting and budgeting processes."

GM Kevin Towers, skipper Kirk Gibson and his coaches, and members of the front office and farm system met Wednesday to discuss a wide range of issues in advance of the start of Spring Training next month.

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy told the team's flagship radio station Thursday night that he would be, "very, very, very shocked" if Ryan Braun knowingly cheated Major League Baseball's rules against banned substances.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke and two of his Major League coaches will be among a club contingent watching outfielder Norichika Aoki's workout this weekend at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Keeping personalities, egos and emotions in check is a major part of Ozzie Guillen's job. The Marlins manager readily admits it, and his task just became more interesting.

The Indians announced several changes to their Major League training staff on Friday. The Indians announced several changes to their Major League training staff on Friday. They promoted Jeff Desjardins to the lead assistant athletic trainer position, with Michael Salazar joining the Major League staff as an assistant athletic trainer as well.

There have been few in Major League history who could hit a baseball as hard or as far as former Ranger Frank Howard. An outfielder with prodigious power, Howard was the star attraction for the Rangers when they moved to Texas in 1972, and the club will recognize him as the 2011 winner of the Mark Holtz Alumni Award at its awards banquet on Thursday at the Arlington Convention Center.

Dan Duquette is faced with the daunting task of getting a Baltimore organization back on track in the AL East, a challenge that's not for the faint of heart. The words passionate, gritty and hard-working best describe the former college catcher and his approach to baseball's front office.

Every team, along with the league itself and its various arms, engages its fans through Twitter and Facebook. Players interact with fans, answering questions and offering baseball lovers more of a glimpse into their favorite athletes' world than what they'd see from the left-field bleachers.

Whether this drastically reconstructed Marlins club is going to be a winner in a loaded National League East is a matter as yet undecided. But regardless, it's going to be a circus in South Beach.

With free agency looming after 2012, Josh Hamilton should change his full-tilt, injury-prone style in hopes of landing an Albert Pujols-type contract.

The Phillies have enjoyed a strangehold on the NL East in recent seasons, but big moves from divisional foes have put the heat on Halladay, Hamels and company.

A year before it will even be in the hands of Baseball Writers' Association of America members who compose the electorate for induction, it's clear the 2013 ballot is one that will change the landscape of how players are elected to join the greats at Cooperstown.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame will announce if there is an electee joining Ron Santo in the Class of 2012 on Monday during an MLB.com simulcast of the announcement on MLB Network live at 2 p.m. ET.