Fastball Fans

* The Los Angeles Dodgers released veteran pitcher Rudy Seanez on Tuesday.

* The Cincinnati Reds optioned right-hander Homer Bailey to Triple-A Louisville Wednesday

* The Chicago Cubs released infielder Alex Cintron, the team announced Wednesday.

* The Texas Rangers optioned pitcher Kameron Loe and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to their minor league camp on Wednesday.

* The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed pitcher Ramon Ramirez from the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday for a player to be named.

* The Cleveland Indians optioned pitcher Tom Mastny to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.

* A day after hitting the game-tying home run in Boston’s 6-5, 10-inning win over Oakland in the season- opener for both clubs, outfielder Brandon Moss is headed back to the minors.

* The Pittsburgh Pirates released Byung-Hyun Kim, and the reassigned pitcher Jaret Wright to minor league camp. They also selected the contract of infielder Doug Mientkiewicz from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, formally adding him to their 40-man roster.

* The San Diego Padres announced Tuesday that they have exercised manager Bud Black’s option for the 2009 season.

* Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. injured his right ankle Monday and is day-to-day.

* Legends Field will be renamed George M. Steinbrenner Field during ceremonies before the New York Yankees’ exhibition game against Pittsburgh on Thursday.

* Mexico City, San Juan, Tokyo and Toronto were picked Monday to host first-round games during the second World Baseball Classic, scheduled to begin play in March 2009.

* Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano was told Sunday that he has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and will probably need Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career.

* Johan Santana will pitch on Opening Day for the Mets.

To get you all in the mood for the season, from the great movie, “Major League” — After learning that their owner put the team together to lose, Manager Lou Brown tells his players. Jake Taylor decides that there’s only one thing to do - “win the whole f*cking thing”.

Ah, the man who perhaps changed the course of baseball in the last three years is at it again with another foray in the publishing world…

You have to read this for yourself, as he throws Alex Rodriguez under the bus.

From ESPN: Jose Canseco says in his new book that he introduced Alex Rodriguez to a steroids distributor and that A-Rod pursued Canseco’s wife, according to the Web site of freelance writer Joe Lavin.

Lavin says on his Web site that he obtained the book, “Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball,” on Monday from a bookstore in Cambridge, Mass. The book is due to be released April 1.

Lavin writes Canseco’s book discusses A-Rod, Roger Clemens and Magglio Ordonez.

He says Canseco claimed he didn’t inject Rodriguez but “introduced Alex to a known supplier of steroids.” Lavin also says “Canseco claims that A-Rod was trying to sleep with Canseco’s wife.”

“I really, absolutely, have no reaction,” Rodriguez said Tuesday when asked about the claim relating to the steroids distributor. As far as the allegation regarding Canseco’s wife, Rodriguez responded: “I don’t know how to answer that.”

Canseco also writes about the infamous June 1998 party at his house. Brian McNamee, Clemens’ former trainer, has said Clemens spoke with Canseco at the barbecue and soon after approached the trainer about using performance-enhancing drugs. According to Lavin, Canseco wrote that Clemens did not attend.

Ah, the sordidness. Who knows what Jose is trying to do; however, for the most part, he told the truth.

Well, the Minnesota Twins locked up another one of their stars today as Joe Nathan and the Twins agreed to terms Monday on a $47 million, four-year contract, a deal that includes a 2012 club option on the 33-year-old closer.

According to the AP, Phillies closer Brad Lidge will start the regular season on the 15-day disabled list while he rehabilitates his knee following arthroscopic surgery last month. He was traded to the Phillies in the off-season, and he’s looking to rebound from a perilous period in Houston.

* Toronto released Reed Johnson on Sunday morning.

* New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte was scratched from his scheduled start in a minor league game Saturday because of back spasms.

* The Texas Rangers on Saturday assigned righthanders Sidney Ponson and Elizardo Ramirez to minor league camp.

* Orioles choose Jeremy Guthrie as opening-day starter; Marlins go with Mark Hendrickson.

Well, there’s some morose news for Tiger fans, as leadoff guy and center fielder Curtis Granderson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday and will miss Opening Day. He’s on the DL due to a broken finger he sustained during a game against Philadelphia.

Well, it looks like Miguel Cabrera is about to become a very, very rich man.

According to ESPN, the huge slugger and the Detroit Tigers have reached a preliminary agreement on a contract extension.

Get this, the contract is for eight years and worth $153.3 million! He’s still got to go through a physical, but once he does, expect him to sign on the dotted line.

Wow.

Three-time All-Star Javy Lopez retired Saturday after being reassigned to the Atlanta Braves’ minor league camp, ending his bid to return to the majors as a backup catcher. In his 15 year career, he spent the majority of his time with Atlanta, but also Baltimore, Colorado and Boston.

Happy trails, Javy.