Alex Rodriguez makes $32 million atop the New York Yankees' $201.7 million payroll. He is baseball's highest-paid player for the 11th straight year, according to an Associated Press report. Overall, salaries were nearly flat for this season, which started Thursday. The average salary for the 844 players on opening day rosters and disabled lists was about $3.3 million, up just 0.2 percent from last year. The increase was the lowest since a 2.7 percent drop in 2004.

Much more than a Hall of Fame pitcher to generations of Cleveland fans, Bob Feller was honored Thursday during a touching 75-minute tribute at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where grounds were blanketed with fresh spring snow on the eve of the Indians' season opener. The ceremony, which was open to the public, was at times humorous, deeply moving and so befitting Feller, who died on Dec. 15 at age 92.

Brooks Robinson says he's on the road to recovery after the Hall of Fame third baseman was hospitalized with a fever and infection, according to an ESPN.com report. Robinson was scheduled for an outpatient procedure at Greater Baltimore Medical Center on Thursday, but on Wednesday night he became ill. In a statement, Robinson says doctors chose to admit him early "to aggressively treat the infection." He says he is "responding well to antibiotics."

Third baseman Ian Stewart has made the Rockies' 25-man opening day roster, according to an ESPN.com report. Stewart homered twice in a minor league game Wednesday night, when he was testing a troublesome left hamstring that could have landed him on the DL to start the season.

Mike Cameron will draw the opening day start in right field for the Red Sox Friday against the Rangers, Terry Francona announced Thursday morning, according to an ESPN.com report. The right-handed hitting Cameron will play instead of J.D. Drew, in a concession by Francona to the presence of left-hander C.J. Wilson on the mound for the Rangers.

When Giants rookie first baseman Brandon Belt was called into manager Bruce Bochy's Wednesday's, he didn't have to wait long to learn his fate. "He kind of got right to it," Belt said. "As soon as I walked in he said, 'Congratulations, you made it.' I immediately started crying. I tried not to be too big of a wuss in there, but it's hard when you've been dreaming about this your entire life and it finally comes through. I couldn't be happier right now." Belt made the 25-man roster and will be the everyday first baseman beginning at at Los Angeles on Thursday night, when the Giants begin defense of their World Series championship against the Dodgers.

Giants pitcher Barry Zito has been examined at a hospital and released after his car was hit broadside at a West Hollywood intersection, according to an ESPN.com report. The crash occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday at Sunset Boulevard and Sunset Plaza Drive, Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Joseph Morien. The pitcher was taken to a Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was examined and released, Deputy Mark Pope said Thursday. It wasn't clear if Zito was injured. Morien said he was taken to the hospital "just to be checked out if he had injuries or not."

Will Roberts, a junior right-hander for Virginia pitched the eighth nine-inning perfect game in NCAA Division I history on Tuesday. He led the Cavaliers to a 2-0 win over George Washington in Charlottesville, Va. Roberts just 98 pitches to record 27 straight outs, earning the first Division I perfecto since Auburn's Eric Brandon beat Murray State in 2002.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's attention will be divided over the next week. He will watch the completion of the NCAA Tournament even though his Blue Devils were eliminated, but he's also excited for the start of the Major League Baseball season. Coach K would have had a tough decision to make if the Final Four was played on Friday, the same day his beloved Cubs will kick off their 2011 season. "Can we only have one Christmas present?" Krzyzewski said when asked which he looked forward to more, the basketball games or the opener at Wrigley.

The Braves have released retired closer Billy Wagner in an unusual agreement that allows the team to protect his rights if he returns in 2011. Wagner had a $6.5 million option for the 2011 season when he retired last season. Atlanta general manager Frank Wren said Wednesday that Wagner, fifth all-time with 422 saves, has not wavered on his retirement.