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Phillies righthander Joe Blanton will begin the regular season on the disabled list, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He suffered a mild oblique strain during a bullpen session Wednesday and will need 3-6 weeks to heal. This will be Blanton’s first trip to the D.L. in his six-season major league career.

The newspaper speculated that righthander Kyle Kendrick, who was set to pitch in relief after losing the fifth-starter competition to Jamie Moyer, will replace Blanton in the rotation.

Last season, Blanton went 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 31 starts for Phialdelphia.

Joe Mauer is the reigning AL MVP.

The Twins won the division title in a one-game playoff against the Tigers last season, a year after losing a one-game playoff to the White Sox. Minnesota’s title defense will come without closer Joe Nathan (elbow), and the Tigers and White Sox should make this a three-team race all season. The Royals have the reigning AL Cy Young award winner in Zack Greinke, while the Indians remain in rebuilding mode.

SN’s predicted order of finish in the AL Central:
1. Minnesota Twins
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians

BUT LOOK OUT FOR …
Sporting News contributor Todd Jones, a former major league closer, picks one team that could prove SN wrong:
White Sox. The rotation is very good, and the bullpen has gas from both sides with Matt Thornton and Bobby Jenks. The lineup is what really excites me. Juan Pierre is now in a place he can shine.

THE ALL-DIVISION TEAM
By ESPN analyst Chris Singleton
Former White Sox center fielder

Zack Greinke is the division’s top pitcher.

LINEUP
C: Joe Mauer, Twins
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2B: Orlando Hudson, Twins
3B: Brandon Inge, Tigers
SS: Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
OF: David DeJesus, Royals
OF: Grady Sizemore, Indians
OF: Carlos Quentin, White Sox
DH: Jason Kubel, Twins

ROTATION
RHP: Zack Greinke, Royals
RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers
RHP: Jake Peavy, White Sox
RHP: Rick Porcello, Tigers
LHP: Mark Buehrle, White Sox

CLOSER
RHP: Bobby Jenks, White Sox

MANAGER
Ron Gardenhire, Twins
— As told to Jeff D’Alessio

THREE THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE AL CENTRAL
By TBS analyst Buck Martinez
Former Royals catcher

1. The White Sox will have the best rotation. They have experience at the top with Jake Peavy and Mark Buehrle, and Gavin Floyd and John Danks are budding stars. I like the Tigers’ staff; I just don’t think they have the depth.
2. The Royals’ Billy Butler will be the division’s breakout player. He’s a very smart hitter. He’s learning to turn on the ball and hit with power. Shin-Soo Choo, for the Indians, is going to have a huge year, too.
3. Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano will be better—but not at his 2006 level. He looked good in winter ball, but I don’t think we’ve seen that same electricity.
— As told to Ryan Fagan

SN SAYS
Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan makes three predictions for each team in the AL Central:

TWINS
1. With J.J. Hardy and Orlando Hudson added to the lineup, Denard Span will score at least 110 runs.
2. Minnesota will have two starters with at least 14 wins for the first time since 2004.
3. Either Michael Cuddyer or Jason Kubel—they hit 60 homers combined in 2009—will make his All-Star debut.

WHITE SOX
1. Gordon Beckham’s rise will mirror that of the Rays’ Evan Longoria in terms of how quickly the league respects and fears him.
2. Juan Pierre will finish in the AL’s top five in stolen bases and outs made.
3. Signing reliever J.J. Putz will prove to be the division’s most underrated offseason move.

TIGERS
1. Johnny Damon will make an impact, but he won’t match the numbers he put up with the Yankees in 2009 (24 homers, 82 RBIs).
2. Austin Jackson will steal the highlight reel, but Scott Sizemore will be the more consistent rookie.
3. Miguel Cabrera will earn his fourth career top five finish in league MVP voting.

ROYALS
1. Billy Butler will reach the 30-homer, 100-RBI plateaus for the first of many times.
2. Alex Gordon’s broken thumb—he could be out until mid-April—will be the latest setback in his All-Star timetable.
3. Aaron Crow, a 2009 first-round pick, will join the rotation by September—if not sooner.

INDIANS
1. Shin-Soo Choo, who had 20 homers and 21 steals last season, will be an All-Star for the first time.
2. Justin Masterson, who has been a starter and reliever in his two-season career, finally will stick in a major league rotation.
3. Trade rumors will swirl, but Grady Sizemore will finish the season with Cleveland.

BESTS OF THE AL CENTRAL
Rookie hitter: Austin Jackson, Tigers
Rookie pitcher: Daniel Schlereth, Tigers
Trade bait: Glen Perkins, Twins
Offseason pickup: Johnny Damon, Tigers
Hitter: Joe Mauer, Twins
Bet to win 20 games: Justin Verlander, Tigers
Unit: White Sox rotation
Bounce-back candidate: Francisco Liriano, Twins
Fifth starter: Freddy Garcia, White Sox
Outfield arm: Rick Ankiel, Royals
1-2 rotation punch: Mark Buehrle and Jake Peavy, White Sox
Basestealer: Juan Pierre, White Sox
Executive: Dave Dombrowski, Tigers
Bullpen: White Sox
— Ryan Fagan

GUEST BEST
Double-play combination
White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham picks: Asdrubal Cabrera and Luis Valbuena, Indians. "They’re both really athletic and smooth infielders. I think they’ll do well there for a while."

This content first appeared in Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

Ichiro Suzuki is the West’s best hitter.

The Angels have won three consecutive AL West titles and five of the past six. However, the improved Mariners figure to tighten up the race, and the Rangers should build upon their 87-win season in 2009. With Ben Sheets anchoring a young and impressive rotation, the A’s also could pick up some momentum.

SN’s predicted order of finish in the AL West:
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland Athletics

BUT LOOK OUT FOR …
Sporting News contributor Todd Jones, a former major league closer, picks one team that could prove SN wrong:
Mariners. Defensively, this team is loaded with guys who can pick it. The rotation, led by King Felix and Cliff Lee, will keep Seattle in games all season, and David Aardsma can slam the door.

THE ALL-DIVISION TEAM
By MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds
Former Mariners second baseman

Ian Kinsler hit 31 homers in 2009.

LINEUP
C: Kurt Suzuki, A’s
1B: Kendry Morales, Angels
2B: Ian Kinsler, Rangers
3B: Chone Figgins, Mariners
SS: Erick Aybar, Angels
OF: Milton Bradley, Mariners
OF: Torii Hunter, Angels
OF: Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
DH: Hideki Matsui, Angels

ROTATION
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
LHP: Cliff Lee, Mariners
RHP: Scott Feldman, Rangers
RHP: Jered Weaver, Angels
LHP: Joe Saunders, Angels

CLOSER
RHP: Frank Francisco, Rangers

MANAGER
Mike Scioscia, Angels
— As told to Jeff D’Alessio

THREE THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE AL WEST
By TBS analyst Dennis Eckersley
Former A’s pitcher

1. The Angels will win the division. They’ve got a nice lineup—they’re going to score some runs. But that pitching, it’s legit, especially in that division.
2. Rangers righthander Neftali Feliz will be a bullpen anchor. What’s more important: a guy who can win 12 games or a guy who can pitch the seventh and eighth innings three times a week?
3. Cliff Lee will be the Mariners’ best offseason acquisition. You’ve got one of the best lefthanders in the game, and he’s coming into a pitchers park.
— As told to Ryan Fagan

SN SAYS
Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan makes three predictions for each team in the AL West:

ANGELS
1. Hitting in the No. 2 spot all season, Bobby Abreu’s streak of consecutive 100-RBI seasons will end at seven.
2. Scott Kazmir won’t be as good as he was with the Angels (1.73 ERA) or as bad as he was with the Rays (5.92 ERA) in 2009.
3. Howie Kendrick, a career .302 hitter entering his fifth season, will finish in the AL’s top 10 in batting average.

MARINERS
1. Ichiro Suzuki will lead the AL in hits, but Chone Figgins will lead the Mariners in on-base percentage.
2. Milton Bradley won’t be a troublemaker, but he won’t repeat his 2008 performance with the Rangers (career-best 22 homers, AL-best .436 on-base percentage).
3. Franklin Gutierrez, the best defensive center fielder in the AL, will win his first Gold Glove.

RANGERS
1. Oft-injured Rich Harden will fail to reach 27 starts and 150 innings for the sixth consecutive season.
2. C.J. Wilson, whose six starts as a major leaguer came in 2005, will make a successful transition from the bullpen to the rotation.
3. At 21, Elvis Andrus will produce an All-Star-caliber first half in his second season in the majors.

ATHLETICS
1. Rookie first baseman Chris Carter will be in the A’s cleanup spot by August—at the latest.
2. Brett Anderson will be Oakland’s lone representative at the All-Star Game.
3. Rajai Davis, who had 41 stolen bases in 2009, will finish in the top five in the AL in steals for the second consecutive season.

BESTS OF THE AL WEST
Rookie hitter: Michael Taylor, A’s
Rookie pitcher: Neftali Feliz, Rangers
Trade bait: Ben Sheets, A’s
Double-play combination: Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler, Rangers
Offseason pickup: Cliff Lee, Mariners
Hitter: Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
Bet to win 20 games: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
Unit: Angels rotation
Bounce-back candidate: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
Fifth starter: Joel Pineiro, Angels
Outfield arm: Ichiro
1-2 rotation punch: Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, Mariners
Executive: Jack Zduriencik, Mariners
Bullpen: Angels
— Ryan Fagan

GUEST BEST
Basestealer
Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler picks: Chone Figgins, Mariners. "If he has a full green light in Seattle, there is no telling how many bases he will steal."

This content first appeared in Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes will start the season on the disabled list, according to ESPN.com.

Reyes is recovering from a thyroid problem that was diagnosed at the beginning of spring training. The training staff is exercising caution with the former All-Star as he tries to regain his strength. Reyes’s trip to the DL would be dated retroactively to March 26 and he would be eligible to come off the DL on April 10 for the Mets’ fifth game, against the Washington Nationals. He has been taking part in exhibition games with Mets minor league teams.

Reyes played in just 36 games last year because of hamstring injuries. He didn’t play in a game after May 20. He had surgery in October to clean up scar tissue in his right hamstring and also tore the muscle while rehabbing the initial injury.

The Mets also officially placed pitcher Kelvim Escobar and outfielder Carlos Beltran on the disabled list, and first baseman Daniel Murphy is expected to miss two to six weeks after spraining his knee.

The attorney for Roger Clemens tells the New York Daily News an indictment remains a possibility in Clemens’ federal perjury case.

The Daily News also reports that part of the feds’ probe focused on the sexual nature of Clemens’ extramarital relationship with singer Mindy McCready. During their questioning of McCready, they wanted to know whether Clemens suffered from erectile dysfunction, which is a possible sign of steroids use.

Fox News reports a sex tape featuring McCready includes her saying she and Clemens had an affair and that Clemens had ED. McCready is trying to prevent the tape from being released by an adult film company that obtained the video.

Clemens’ legal issues also include an ongoing defamation suit against Brian McNamee, his former trainer. McNamee told federal investigators he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 to 2001.

Negotiations on a long-term contract for Indians right fielder Shin-Soo Choo have stalled, MLB.com reports.

The site reports the Indians would like to sign Choo to a five-year contract with an option for a sixth year, but Choo and his agent, Scott Boras, have not expressed much interest in such a deal.

"It’s up to Boras and the Indians to figure that out," Choo told MLB.com on Tuesday. "That’s not my job. My job is to worry about the team."

Boras declined to comment to MLB.com about the negotiations.

Cleveland renewed Choo’s contract this spring, at slightly more than the major league minimum of $400,000. Choo will be eligible for arbitration next year.

Choo, 27, batted .300 with 20 home runs, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases last year in his first full big-league season.

Contract negotiations between the Red Sox and ace Josh Beckett have progressed enough that a deal could be reached in the next week or two, according to ESPN.

According to the report, the Red Sox have offered the righthander a guaranteed four-year deal comparable to the contract they gave free agent righthander John Lackey this past offseason. However, ESPN reported the Red Sox won’t guarantee a fifth season in talks with Beckett.

Beckett, the team’s opening night starter Sunday against the Yankees, is in the final season of the contract he signed in 2007.

Beckett, 30, went 17-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts last season and is 65-34 with a 4.05 ERA in four seasons with Boston. In eight postseason starts with the Red Sox, Beckett is 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA.