Speaking to reporters at the Phillies’ spring training complex, a tearful Dallas Green, former big league manager and senior adviser to general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., thanks everyone for their support after the shooting death of his granddaughter. Nine year-old Christina Taylor Green was one of six victims killed five weeks ago in a shooting rampage during U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ ‘Congress on Your Corner’ gathering outside of a Tucson supermarket.

Rickie Weeks and the Brewers come to terms on a $38.5 million, four-year deal that includes a 2015 option based on plate appearances which could increase the total value of the contract to $50 million. The 28 year-old second baseman broke a franchise record last season with 754 trips to the plate, mostly as the team’s leadoff hitter.

2011 – The Mets bring back a figure from the past, signing reliever Jason Isringhausen to a minor league deal coupled with an invitation to spring training. Isringhausen is attempting a comeback from Tommy John surgery at age 38. He was part of the Mets’ vaunted “Big Three” in the mid-1990s along with Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson: the minor league standouts were supposed to anchor the Mets’ pitching staff for the next decade, but all three fell victim to arm injuries, and none of them had much success in the Big Apple.

“Doris From Rego Park” makes its debut on Jonathan Schwartz’s weekend program on WNYC-FM. The song, written and performed by Don Rosler, is a tribute to Doris Bauer, the Mets fan who became a New York institution as a late-night caller to WFAN sports radio before she died in 2003.

The Indians sign SS Orlando Cabrera, one the last remaining unsigned free agents of the off-season, to a one-year deal. Cabrera helped the Reds to the NL East title last year.

The Angels’ Jered Weaver is a loser in his salary arbitration hearing, but still comes out with a salary of $7.36 million, almost doubling his earnings from last year, when he led the American League in strikeouts.

2011 – In the first salary arbitration decision of the off-season, Pittsburgh P Ross Ohlendorf is a winner, being awarded a salary of $ 2.025 million in spite of an ugly 1-11 record in 2010.