Humongous Web Sports Blog

Albert Pujols for Ryan Howard? Let’s just say the MVP sluggers don’t plan to pack their bags anytime soon. Talk of a megatrade kept baseball buzzing Monday following an ESPN report the Philadelphia Phillies were thinking about asking the St. Louis Cardinals if they’d like to swap star first basemen.

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton left Monday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning after he was hit on the top of his left hand by a pitch from Madison Bumgarner. “Somebody’s out to get me,” Hamilton said with a wry smile. “Watch out, boys. Don’t stand too close.” Hamilton skipped [...]

Arizona slugger Mark Reynolds says he’s agreed to terms on a new contract with the Diamondbacks. Two people familiar with the talks said on Monday that the deal was worth $14.5 million over three years and includes an $11 million club option for 2013. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not [...]

Ben Sheets was battered for 10 runs without retiring a batter in his latest poor showing, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Oakland Athletics 13-5 Monday. Sheets signed a one-year, $10 million contract with Oakland after missing last season with elbow problems that required surgery. He gave up eight hits and a walk, and another [...]

Francisco Rodriguez looked like the dominant pitcher he was with the Angels. K-Rod wore prescription sunglasses in a spring training debut delayed by conjunctivitis, the same look he used to have with the Angels. After Rodriguez retired the side on seven pitches Monday, Angel Pagan hit a two-run, ninth-inning homer off Pete Parise to give [...]

Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was scratched from Monday’s exhibition game against Minnesota because of a tight groin but said he expects to play Tuesday. Ramirez told the team he felt a little sore running the bases during batting practice. He had treatment during the game, then said the problem was “nothing.” Donnie Murphy replaced [...]

Mike Lowell made his spring training debut for the Boston Red Sox — at an unfamiliar position. Lowell, who had surgery Dec. 30 to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, played first base Monday in an 8-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. It was his first appearance at the position since 1998, when [...]

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco sprained his right knee during Monday’s 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Polanco was injured while trying to catch Delwyn Young’s pop single that landed just behind the mound in the second inning. Polanco’s right foot came down hard on the mound as he lost the ball in the [...]

Johan Santana resembled the pitcher on Sunday that many call the premier left-hander in the game the last six years. Santana pitched four scoreless innings against the Marlins, allowing three hits in his second spring training start since undergoing surgery on his left elbow in September. Santana and fellow Venezuelan Anibal Sanchez left a scoreless [...]

Daisuke Matsuzaka said Sunday he’s feeling better but is waiting to make a decision on when he’ll have his first throwing session of spring training. A day after he was scratched from throwing batting practice because of a stiff neck, the Red Sox right-hander played catch for about 10 minutes from 60 feet.