Blood services merge to save money Florida Blood Services is merging its blood-testing service with a large testing company in a new partnership. Separately, St. Petersburg-based Florida Blood Services and Blood Systems Laboratories, which has offices in Phoenix and the Dallas area, test about 25 percent of the U.S. blood supply, according to a news release. ...more

November 12, 2009

The Lightning struck a deal with defenseman Matt Smaby late Saturday, avoiding a potential arbitration hearing. ...more

July 27, 2009

Luke McCown might become Tampa Bay's starting quarterback by default, but as the Bucs' first minicamp begins on Tuesday, there is one thing he wants to prove. He is the best choice. ...more

March 27, 2009

Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to return to the Seattle Mariners. ...more

February 19, 2009

A federal judge says she might toss some of the strongest evidence against Barry Bonds, a blow to prosecutors trying to prove the home-run king lied when he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. ...more

February 6, 2009

Former Seminole High graduate Casey Kotchman and the Atlanta Braves avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2,885,000. Kotchman could earn an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses under the deal agreed to last week and announced Monday. He hit a combined .272 with 14 homers and 74 RBIs last season for the Braves and the Los Angeles Angels. The first baseman, who turns 26 on Feb. 22, hit only .149 with no homers in his first 22 games after he was acquired by the Braves on July 29 in the trade that sent Mark Teixeira to the Angels. Kotchman hit .305 with two homers and 15 RBIs in September. He has a .997 career fielding percentage with just eight errors in 357 games. After making $1.45 million last year, Kotchman had asked for a raise to $3.25 million in arbitration. He had been offered $2,475,000. ...more

February 2, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard asked for $18 million in salary arbitration Tuesday, the third-highest figure submitted since the process began in 1974. ...more

January 21, 2009

Jim Schwartz faces the biggest challenge among the 32 NFL teams next season: turning around a team that didn't win a single game. ...more

January 17, 2009

The Rays added another experienced arm to their bullpen mix Friday, signing Lance Cormier to a one-year deal. The major-league contract guarantees the 28-year-old at least $675,000 while allowing him to earn up to $175,000 more in incentives. ...more

January 17, 2009

The rumor that Lecavalier could be dealt to the Montreal Canadiens is a runaway train, writes Joe Henderson. ...more

January 13, 2009