MARLINS

Jorge Cantu, Leo Nuñez latest Florida Marlins to avoid arbitration

Third baseman Jorge Cantu and late-inning reliever Leo Nuñez are the latest Marlins players to reach a deal on a contract and avoid arbitration.

IN MY OPINION

What if 'hero' came clean, with no tears?

What if the confession came from Derek Jeter or Cal Ripken Jr.?

One of the beloved guys wrapped in the kind of myth we like to create and applaud, in other words. It could be Michael Jordan or Dwyane Wade or Dan Marino or Tom Brady, too, given how paramount healing is in sports and how prevalent medicine has been around our games the past quarter-century, but let's stick to baseball. And what if the press-conference confessional lacked tone and tears and excuses/rationalizations/lies and was just honest, logical and explanatory?

IN MY OPINION

Mark McGwire's confession a convenient truth

Confession is good. It is good for the soul. It is good for future book sales. It is good for any number of things. It is good for helping alleviate the distraction if, just to use a totally random example, you are about to start your new job as, say, hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals.

MARLINS

Meetings over; trade talks likely are not

The Marlins are working hard to deal second baseman Dan Uggla after the winter meetings yielded no action.

MARLINS

Long-term Josh Johnson deal: Florida Marlins open to it

Marlins president Larry Beinfest said the team would consider a long-term contract for pitcher Josh Johnson, but the pitcher's agent wasn't optimistic.

MARLINS

Potential call: Who's at second for Florida Marlins?

If Dan Uggla is traded as expected, the Marlins can focus on choosing either Emilio Bonifacio or Chris Coghlan as his successor.

Sanchez leads Venezuela's Lara past Zulia in Homestead

Romulo Sanchez found minimal room for comfort. The game situation required instant outs and Sanchez more than fulfilled his role.

A 25-year-old relief pitcher in the New York Yankees organization, Sanchez struck out all six hitters he faced, preserving the Lara Cardinals' slim lead of an eventual 6-4 victory against the Zulia Eagles on Saturday afternoon at the Homestead Baseball Complex.

VENEZUELA

Baseball teams will showcase their talent in Homestead

Venezuelan winter baseball league teams Lara Cardinals and Zulia Eagles will leave familiar environs for an important late-season series.

In an effort to showcase Venezuelan baseball outside its borders, the Cardinals and Eagles will play a two-game regular-season set Saturday and Sunday afternoon at the Homestead Baseball Complex.

Sammy Sosa faces questions about changed complexion

No, some scheming pitcher didn't powder Sammy Sosa's face with a rosin bag, payback for all those home runs the slugger walloped during his career. Nor is Sosa paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

WORLD SERIES GAME 5

Yankees' A.J. Burnett struggles in Game 5 outing

A.J. Burnett didn't fare as well pitching on three days rest as teammate CC Sabathia did on Sunday, with the former Marlins righty pulled in the third inning of Philadelphia's 8-6 win Monday night.

WORLD SERIES GAME 3 | YANKEES 8, PHILLIES 5

A-Rod homers as Yankees take 2-1 World Series lead

Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run that was allowed after a replay review, helping the Yankees take a 2-1 lead in the Series.

SPRING TRAINING

Baltimore Orioles' move means end to spring training in South Florida

When baseball players get into the swing during next year's preseason, South Florida will likely be without a team for the first time in 60 years.