The Red Sox and their ace, Josh Beckett, come to terms on a $68 million, four-year contract extension. The agreement keeps the team’s Opening Day starter in Boston along with recent free agent acquisition John Lackey, giving the club a potent 1-2 punch in the top of their rotation for the next five years.

ByTom

The Red Sox and their ace, Josh Beckett, come to terms on a $68 million, four-year contract extension. The agreement keeps the team’s Opening Day starter in Boston along with recent free agent acquisition John Lackey, giving the club a potent 1-2 punch in the top of their rotation for the next five years.

The Blue Jays’ Shaun Marcum, getting the opening day starting nod after missing all of 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery, holds the Texas Rangers hitless into the 7th inning as the Jays stake an early lead on homers by Vernon Wells and Adam Lind. Nelson Cruz ties the game with a three-run homer in the 7th, but after the Jays retake the lead, new Toronto closer Jason Frasor blows the save opportunity, giving up two runs in the 9th for a 5 – 4 Texas win. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hits the game-winning single.

ByBaseball

The Blue Jays’ Shaun Marcum, getting the opening day starting nod after missing all of 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery, holds the Texas Rangers hitless into the 7th inning as the Jays stake an early lead on homers by Vernon Wells and Adam Lind. Nelson Cruz ties the game with a three-run homer in the 7th, but after the Jays retake the lead, new Toronto closer Jason Frasor blows the save opportunity, giving up two runs in the 9th for a 5 – 4 Texas win. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hits the game-winning single.

Matt Stairs plays for his twelfth major league organization, equaling Deacon McGuire’s record (1884 to 1912) for the most teams ever played with by a position player

ByThis Day in Baseball

Matt Stairs plays for his twelfth major league organization, equaling Deacon McGuire’s record (1884 to 1912) for the most teams ever played with by a position player. The 18-year veteran, who also joins pitchers Mike Morgan and Ron Villone for being on a dozen different clubs, flies out in a pinch-hitting role for the Padres in a 6-3 loss to Arizona at Chase Field.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stage a classic battle to open the major league season at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox winning, 9 – 7, after trailing 5 – 1 and 7 – 5. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers in the 2nd and Brett Gardner steals home as the Yanks build an early lead against Josh Beckett, but a homer by Dustin Pedroia and three extra-base hits by Kevin Youkilis highlight the Sox’s comeback. Chan Ho Park takes the loss in his Yankee debut, while Hideki Okajima is the winner.

ByBaseball

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stage a classic battle to open the major league season at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox winning, 9 – 7, after trailing 5 – 1 and 7 – 5. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers in the 2nd and Brett Gardner steals home as the Yanks build an early lead against Josh Beckett, but a homer by Dustin Pedroia and three extra-base hits by Kevin Youkilis highlight the Sox’s comeback. Chan Ho Park takes the loss in his Yankee debut, while Hideki Okajima is the winner.

Adam Lind (.305, 35, 114) and the Blue Jays agreed to an $18 million, four-year contract that includes three additional years with a club option. The 26 year-old outfielder, flanked by several teammates, announces the deal at a press conference held before an exhibition game in Houston.

ByBaseball

Adam Lind (.305, 35, 114) and the Blue Jays agreed to an $18 million, four-year contract that includes three additional years with a club option. The 26 year-old outfielder, flanked by several teammates, announces the deal at a press conference held before an exhibition game in Houston.

The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new ballpark, Target Field, with an 8 – 4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game. The new outdoor venue receives rave reviews from players.

ByBaseball

The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new ballpark, Target Field, with an 8 – 4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in an exhibition game. The new outdoor venue receives rave reviews from players.

The injury-ravaged New York Mets round out their roster by making six cuts, sending Ps Nelson Figueroa, Kiko Calero, Bobby Parnell and Elmer Dessens, along with IF Russ Adams and OF Chris Carter, major league veterans all, down to AAA Buffalo. Among those that make it through the day are veteran Frank Catalanotto, a spring training invitee, and 20-year-old P Jenrry Mejia.

ByBaseball

The injury-ravaged New York Mets round out their roster by making six cuts, sending Ps Nelson Figueroa, Kiko Calero, Bobby Parnell and Elmer Dessens, along with IF Russ Adams and OF Chris Carter, major league veterans all, down to AAA Buffalo. Among those that make it through the day are veteran Frank Catalanotto, a spring training invitee, and 20-year-old P Jenrry Mejia.

The Phillies are thin on the mound going into the season, as they place starter Joe Blanton on the disabled list, where he joins teammates and bullpen mainstays Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero.

ByBaseball

The Phillies are thin on the mound going into the season, as they place starter Joe Blanton on the disabled list, where he joins teammates and bullpen mainstays Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero.

Shingo Takatsu saves his first game in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, becoming the first player with saves in the CPBL, Major League Baseball, Nippon Pro Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization.

ByTom

Shingo Takatsu saves his first game in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, becoming the first player with saves in the CPBL, Major League Baseball, Nippon Pro Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization.