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BRAUN HURTS THUMB (1:18 a.m. ET)
Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun is day to day with a right thumb contusion after leaving in the second inning of Tuesday night's game against the Padres.

The 2007 National League rookie of the year was struck by a first-inning line drive off the bat of the Padres' Brian Giles when he lost the ball in the lights. X-rays of Braun's thumb were taken but showed no significant damage.

Braun, who drove in a run in his only at-bat, was making only his sixth Cactus League appearance after playing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. Last season, he hit .285 with 37 homers and 106 RBIs.

MYERS GETS OPENING DAY NOD (11:48 p.m. ET)
Brett Myers had a strong outing in his final spring appearance and earned the Opening Day start for the Phillies for the third straight year.

Myers held Toronto to one run on three hits in four innings, leading the Phillies to a 9-1 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday night. He struck out four while walking none.

After the game, Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel announced that the 28-year-old right-hander will start the opener. Cole Hamels, originally scheduled to start the first game, was officially ruled out a day earlier as he battles back from elbow tightness.

"Once Cole couldn't start, the way we keep the rotation, [Myers] follows Cole and then [Jamie] Moyer and [Joe] Blanton," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's how we've had it when we won."

Myers' lone mistake came in the second inning when he gave up a two-out, solo homer to Travis Snider on a 3-2 pitch.

"I'm ready to pitch whenever, as long as they give me the chance," Myers said before Manuel announced he would start the opener. "Whenever they give me the green light, I'll be ready."

PUTZ EXITS EARLY (10:54 p.m. ET)
Setup man J.J. Putz left the Mets' 9-2 victory over the Marlins on Tuesday night after irritating the fingernail on his right middle finger.

Putz struck out Alejandro De Aza looking and Andy Gonzalez swinging in the eighth inning. He then walked off the mound and was greeted by manager Jerry Manuel near the first-base line.

"Nothing serious," Manuel said. "We figured it would be best just to get him out of there and get it taken care of."

Putz was a key offseason acquisition for the Mets, who overhauled their bullpen in one day when they obtained Putz from Seattle in a three-team, 12-player trade hours after signing closer Rodriguez.

BERKMAN SITS AGAIN (10:43 p.m. ET)
Astros first baseman Lance Berkman missed his fourth consecutive game with biceps tendinitis in his left shoulder.

Berkman said Monday that he planned to DH on Tuesday, but Houston manager elected not to use a DH against the Braves in order to give Berkman another day of rest.

Berkman is expected to play Wednesday against Cincinnati.

OHMAN MAKES SPRING DEBUT (9:42 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles reliever Will Ohman gave up a homer and showed rust while making his spring debut. The veteran left-hander, signed on Monday to a one-year minor league contract, was playing catch-up after not being in camp.

"Obviously signing so late I wanted to bring as much attention to myself as possible. I thought I would go up there and give up a dinger to the first guy," Ohman said, with a laugh.

Ohman got ahead of Chad Tracy for an 0-2 count before allowing a two-run homer to right field. It was the first batter he faced in the fifth inning. The longtime reliever, who has a career 10-9 record in 303 games, walked Conor Jackson before striking out Miguel Montero to end the frame.

"This is a building block. They are looking for me to refine my stuff and get in a position where I am locked in," Ohman said. "All I am looking for and I think all the club is looking for is a general progression so it gets better each and every time."

Ohman, who was 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 83 games with Atlanta last year.

NATS RELEASE PENA (9:09 p.m. ET)
The Nationals gave outfielder Wily Mo Pena his unconditional release Tuesday and reassigned reliever Gary Glover to minor league camp.

The moves left the Nationals with 34 players in their spring camp.

Pena refused an assignment to the minor leagues after being waived Saturday.

He hit .205 with only two homers and 10 RBIs in 195 at-bats in 2008 before having an operation on his left shoulder in July. In October, the Nationals rejected their $5 million option for 2009 on Pena, but he exercised his $2 million option.

The Nationals acquired Pena from Boston in July 2007, one of a long series of deals in which former Washington general manager Jim Bowden acquired players he knew from his days working for the Reds. The Red Sox got first baseman Chris Carter in what was a three-team deal that involved Washington sending Emiliano Fruto to the Diamondbacks.

BONIFACIO TO START AT THIRD (8:34 p.m. ET)
Marlins newcomer Emilio Bonifacio won a starting job at third base, and Jorge Cantu will move to first.

The lineup was solidified Tuesday when the Marlins optioned rookie first baseman Gaby Sanchez to Triple-A New Orleans.

Bonifacio was acquired from the Nationals to add depth. A natural second baseman, he impressed the Marlins with his speed and defense.

"I like him in that lineup some place," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He has made unbelievable improvement at third base, a position he didn't play. He's been learning under the gun a little bit."

Cantu played mostly third last season for Florida, but he started 23 games at first and is better there defensively. Before joining the Marlins last year he was primarily a second baseman.

BURRISS GETS STARTNG NOD (8:17 p.m. ET)
Emmanuel Burriss is San Francisco's starting second baseman.

The Giants optioned Kevin Frandsen to Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday, giving the job to Burriss after a strong competition in spring training.

"[Burriss'] all-around play was very solid," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "It was a unanimous opinion from all involved -- front office, coaching staff, scouts. He had a tremendous spring."

Burriss, 24, was hitting .357 with four doubles, four stolen bases and nine RBIs entering the Giants' game against Texas in Surprise on Tuesday. Frandsen hit .274 with a homer and six RBIs.

"Every day is a learning day," Burriss said earlier in camp. "I want to say I'm pretty comfortable [at second], but I have to get better. There is always room for improvement."

Frandsen, 26, missed all but one game in 2008 after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in spring training on March 24. He made one pinch-hit appearance, against Los Angeles on Sept. 28.

DUCHSCHERER HAS SURGERY (8:00 p.m. ET)
A's right-hander Justin Duchscherer underwent elbow surgery on Tuesday morning.

It was an arthroscopic cleanup and manager Bob Geren said everything went well.

Geren said the A's still won't know how much time Duchscherer will miss until he starts throwing. He is expected to miss at least six weeks, though.

OPPORTUNITY LOST FOR PONSON? (7:57 p.m. ET)
Sidney Ponson didn't do much to help his bid for a spot in the Royals' rotation.

Ponson gave up seven runs in five innings in the Royals' 7-2 loss to the Athletics on Tuesday, hours after Luke Hochevar was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, eliminating one of the contenders for the final spots in the Kansas City rotation.

"It wasn't good at all," said Ponson, who threw three scoreless innings but also gave up two runs in the first and five in the fourth. "I gave up seven runs today. That's not what I wanted to do. That fourth inning I was behind everybody and everything was over the plate. I didn't throw the way I wanted to throw. I kept giving up hits, and everything went downhill."

The Royals signed the 32-year-old veteran after his performance for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. In two outings this spring, he has allowed 11 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings.

"I'm not disappointed," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "I didn't like the results, but I'm not disappointed in what he brings to table. ... We still saw stuff, pitchability."

Ponson is still likely to win one of the final spots in the Royals' rotation. Gil Meche, Zack Greinke and Kyle Davies are the top three starters. Ponson, Horacio Ramirez and Brian Bannister are the candidates for the fourth and fifth spots.

METS MAKE FINAL MOVES (7:32 p.m. ET)
The Mets reassigned right-hander Elmer Dessens and outfielder Bobby Kielty to their minor league camp and waived right-hander Fernando Nieve on Tuesday, leaving 25 players in the major league camp.

Dessens pitched three innings in the spring, giving up four hits and two walks. Kielty batted .296 with one home run and 10 RBIs in 24 games. Nieve posted a 3.00 ERA in six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks.

Outfielders Marlon Anderson and Jeremy Reed earned the final bench spots, and right-handers Darren O'Day and Bobby Parnell secured spots in the bullpen.

Also, the Mets released veteran infielder Jose Valentin, pitcher Tony Armas Jr. and second baseman Junior Spivey from the minor league camp.

BAKER BOUNCED (5:20 p.m. ET)
Reds manager Dusty Baker was ejected by plate umpire D.J. Reyburn following a heated argument in the sixth inning. It was an unusual outburst by Baker, who was ejected only once last season.

The blowup came after someone in the Reds dugout yelled something at Reyburn, who turned and said something back. Baker, who was seated next to the dugout on a folding chair, got into an animated exchange with the umpire and was ejected.

Instead of leaving the field immediately -- Baker would have had to walk along the right-field foul line and leave through a gate -- he told crew chief Charlie Reliford that he was going to watch the rest of the inning from the dugout.

"I said, 'Hey, man, I ain't leaving right now because I ain't walking down there,'" Baker said. "It's a long walk. I wasn't going to hold up the game. I told Charlie I'll leave after the inning."

CHAMBERLAIN STICKS AROUND (5:14 p.m. ET)
Joba Chamberlain pitched into the sixth inning Tuesday, a step forward in his development as a starter, and the Yankees took advantage of four Cincinnati errors in a 6-3 victory over the Reds.

The Yankees wanted Chamberlain to pitch six innings for the first time this spring, and he came close. The right-hander allowed five hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings, leaving after the Reds scored twice.

"Good," Chamberlain said. "It's still got to get better. Velocity and attacking the [strike] zone, I felt good. It was something to build on."

The Yankees' fifth starter hadn't lasted longer than 4 1/3 innings in any of his five previous games this spring, going a total of 14 2/3 innings. It was Chamberlain's final chance to pitch deeper into a game, and he did what the Yankees wanted, striking out six along the way.

"It's what we wanted to see from him," manager Joe Girardi said. "A good step. He was pretty good today. He was anywhere between 90-96 [mph] today."

Meanwhile, Yankees DH Hideki Matsui was limited in drills by a stiff neck. Girardi said Matsui could play on Wednesday. Right fielder Xavier Nady said he was OK after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch in the sixth. He left the game with a bruise.

PARK IS PHILS' FIVE GUY (5:08 p.m. ET)
Philadelphia named Chan Ho Park its fifth starter. The veteran right-hander beat out lefty J.A. Happ for the final spot in the starting rotation.

Park had an outstanding spring after signing a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Phillies in January. He came into camp competing with incumbent No. 5 starter Kyle Kendrick, rookie prospect Carlos Carrasco and Happ.

Park, a former All-Star, was 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 54 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He was 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA as a starter and 3-4 with a 3.84 ERA in relief.

REDS DEAL KEPPINGER TO ASTROS (4:50 p.m. ET)
Jeff Keppinger was packing his gear when he got a call saying manager Dusty Baker wanted to talk to him. The reserve shortstop thought he was about to be released.

Instead, the Reds traded him to the Astros on Tuesday for a player to be named, giving him a chance to play for his fifth major league organization. He batted only .140 in 21 games this spring and knew it was likely that he wouldn't make the team.

"I'm just glad they didn't release me," Keppinger said. "I was going to ask if they were going to release me just because of my spring numbers."

Keppinger bailed the Reds out last season, when starting shortstop Alex Gonzalez was sidelined by a fractured knee. Keppinger started 101 games at shortstop, batting .266 with three homers and 43 RBIs.

Gonzalez is back from the injury this season, although a strained hamstring has held him back recently. He played in a minor league game for the second day in a row Tuesday and reported no problems.

DEVINE'S ELBOW SENDS HIM TO DL (4:17 p.m. ET)
Joey Devine will start the season on the disabled list because of a recurring elbow problem, leaving the Athletics without one of their two closers.

Devine, who had to come out of Monday's game because of elbow pain, said Tuesday morning he will see noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews next week. With Devine out, the A's will use right-hander Brad Ziegler as their lone closer.

Devine, 25, has had the same problem in his right elbow throughout the past few years, including a two-month stint on the DL last season. He missed about two weeks this spring. During his second big league exhibition game after his return, he said he felt more pain.

"It's been a roller coaster," he said. "I've have some ups but I've had more downs. I try to tell myself it will be fine, but there is only so much you can do. I've got to get it diagnosed and get it fixed. Whether that's sitting out and rehabbing it or going from there [to have surgery]."

Devine was 6-1 with an 0.59 ERA in 42 innings last season, the lowest ERA in major league history for a pitcher with at least 25 innings.

THANKS FOR THE HIT, BUT YOU'RE OUT (4:10 p.m. ET)
Geoff Jenkins, who had a key hit for Philadelphia in the resumption of Game 5 of last year's World Series, is no longer a Phillie.

The Phillies released Jenkins on Tuesday, giving them 29 players as Saturday's deadline approaches for the team to set its 25-man roster.

Philadelphia owes Jenkins $8 million on his contract: $6.75 million for this season plus a $1.25 million buyout of his 2010 option.

The 31-year-old outfielder hit .246 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs last season for the Phillies. His double in the first at-bat of the resumption of Game 5 of the World Series led to the go-ahead run.

The Tampa Bay Rays later tied the game, but the Phillies went on to win and secure their first World Series title in 28 years.

Jenkins is a career .275 hitter with 221 home runs and 733 RBIs in 12 seasons.

FOGG HAS TO MOVE ON (4:07 p.m. ET)
Josh Fogg, who signed a minor league deal Feb. 2 with the Rockies, wasn't able to make his way back onto the team that he played with in 2006 and 2007. Fogg was reassigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday.

"I will look for another job. If not, then I will head to the Springs and start there," Fogg said, according to the Denver Post. "Hopefully I can get stretched out, start, and wait for an opportunity."

Outfielder Matt Murton was optioned to Colorado Springs, though manager Clint Hurdle expected he will be called up this season at some point, according to the Post.

ALBALADEJO SNAGS BULLPEN JOB (3:30 p.m. ET)
Jonathan Albaladejo has won the competition for the final spot in the Yankees' bullpen, beating three long-relief candidates, who were sent to the minors on Tuesday.

Alfredo Aceves and Dan Giese were optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and Brett Tomko was reassigned to the Triple-A club. Catcher Kevin Cash also was reassigned to New York's top farm team.

Tomko had been considered the front-runner for the spot but the Yankees opted to keep Albaladejo. Albaladejo and Phil Coke can throw multiple innings and fill the long-reliever void.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Tomko said. "I respect their decision. I feel like I pitched my way onto this team. They said they wanted to go with a short-[inning] guy and not a long man. I can do that. That's what the frustration comes from."

MANUEL CONFIRMS LIVAN, LINEUP SPOTS (2:45 p.m. ET)
No big surprise here: Mets manager Jerry Manuel said on Monday that RHP Livan Hernandez will be the team's fifth starter.

Before the Mets-Orioles game Monday night, Manuel said he was favoring left fielder Daniel Murphy as the No. 2 batter in the lineup, with second baseman Luis Castillo eighth.

The Mets also signed LHP Ken Takahashi to a minor league contract. Takahashi, 39, appeared in one game this spring with the Blue Jays, allowing four hits and two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

MIJARES, BUTERA SENT TO ROCHESTER (11:19 a.m. ET)
The Twins optioned Jose Mijares to their Triple-A Rochester team after the left-handed reliever had a rocky spring training.

He gave up 18 hits, walked nine and struck out seven in 10 innings. His ERA stands at 9.90.

Mijares started last season in Double-A, but took over as the main set-up man in late September and posted an 0.87 ERA with only three hits allowed in 10 1/3 innings.

The team also sent catcher Drew Butera to Triple-A. Catcher Jeff Christy and infielder Alejandro Machado were assigned to minor league camp. The Twins now have 30 active players remaining in camp, including 14 pitchers.

MATTHEWS RETURNS TO CAMP (10:10 a.m. ET)
After being informed Sunday that he was the Angels' fifth outfielder, Gary Matthews Jr. took a day to reflect on the development, then returned Monday and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in a 13-3 victory against the White Sox.

"I want to play every day," Matthews said Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I would like to do that here ... But if it's not going to happen, we need to explore different options."

Matthews declined to say if he had asked the team for a trade. "It's kind of obvious what the subject was," he said of Sunday's meeting with Angels management. But complicating any movement would be the fact he has three years and $33 million left on his deal.

Matthews is coming back from offseason knee surgery, which repaired the patellar tendon. He was not expected to play until May, but he has appeared in 13 games this spring, and was hitting. 294 with two home runs and 11 RBIs.

"Based on how I recovered from surgery and how I've performed this spring, my opinion is that I'm an everyday player," Matthews said, according to the Times. "I discussed this [with manager Mike Scioscia and general manager Tony Reagins]. We agree to disagree at this point."

WISE WINS STARTING JOB (9:54 a.m. ET)
Dewayne Wise officially has been handed Chicago's starting center fielder's job, and the career journeyman will be the leadoff hitter as well.

"[Manager] Ozzie [Guillen] came to me, told me congratulations, whatever," Wise said. "He told me he was going to put me in that leadoff spot, see what happens. He told me he was proud of the way I played this spring, and best of luck to me."

Wise, who has been with the Blue Jays, Braves and Reds, has never played more than 57 games a season in the majors.

"This is a great feeling," Wise said in the Chicago Tribune. "This is something I wanted my whole career. Now at 31 I get the opportunity. I just go out and have fun, do whatever it takes to help the team win."

Wise won the spot over Jerry Owens, whom the White Sox have been grooming the past three seasons. But Owens, who was placed on waivers on Monday, disappointed them with his lackluster efforts this spring. Unless another team picks him up, he will be outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte.

"I was a little disappointed," Guillen said, according to the Tribune. "We've been waiting for him for three years, and we gave him the job for three years. Last year he got hurt. It's unfortunate and a shame this kid didn't get it done."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

For more spring training news that could impact your fantasy team, check out our daily camp notes. • Sign up, play for free

CHAVEZ SAYS HE'S READY (9:34 p.m. ET)
Eric Chavez says he's ready for Opening Day.

Chavez, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, started and played third in the Athletics' 9-5 victory over the Dodgers, his first back-to-back games in the field this spring.

Chavez was limited to designated hitter duties early in the spring, and then he had a setback that cost him about two weeks. On Monday, Chavez had a double and a walk in three trips to the plate. He is 3-for-17 this spring, but he's 2-for-6 since he returned to the lineup following his setback.

"Timing feels good," Chavez said. "I've just got to get used to getting in there every day and back-to-back days. It's always different playing in a game with the adrenaline. For some reason there are different parts that work when you have adrenaline versus when you don't."

Meanwhile, left-fielder Manny Ramirez dropped a fly ball on the warning track, then fell down while trying to make a running catch, drawing an error, during the A's four-run second inning. "My gold glove is in jeopardy," Ramirez said.

BENSON ON BOARD? (9:06 p.m. ET)
Kris Benson believes he has done enough to nail down the final spot in Texas' rotation, and manager Ron Washington agrees.

"He's one of mine," Washington said when asked if Benson is one of the Rangers' five best starters. "It's more than me making the decision."

Benson pitched six strong innings and the Rangers beat the Giants 7-5. He gave up three runs and six hits, struck out two and walked none.

Benson, who has a 4.76 ERA in 17 innings this spring, hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2006 after rotator cuff surgery.

"I feel like every time I step on the mound and face hitters it's an audition," said Benson, who missed the 2007 season, pitched 11 Triple-A games last year and signed a minor league deal with the Rangers in February.

HARDEN BACK ON MOUND (8:24 p.m. ET)
Rich Harden returned to the mound for the first time since March 15 because of food poisoning and gave up three homers and five runs in the Cubs' 8-8, 10-inning tie with the Royals.

"I'm feeling good and got my strength back," said Harden, who gave up four hits in 4 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out four. "I threw 80 pitches and was still feeling just as strong at the end of it, which is good. We'll extend it a little more next time. My body is as strong as it's going to be. I'm ready to go."

Harden lost seven pounds after eating tainted chicken salad.

"I'm starting to put some weight back on," he said. "I'm still down a couple of pounds, but that's it. I'm definitely feeling a whole lot stronger now and it's back to normal, back to where I was before. My shoulder is feeling really strong, which is good."

Harden's next start will be Saturday at the new Yankee Stadium in the Cubs' final exhibition game.

"It's going to be nice being in Yankee Stadium, a big game like that," Harden said. "It will be like regular season. It will be packed there."

BAEK SIDELINED (8:15 p.m. ET)
Cha Seung Baek will miss his final Cactus League start and possibly the start of the season for the Padres because of a strained right forearm.

Baek left a start Sunday after four innings, complaining of soreness. The Padres are uncertain if the right-hander will be put on the disabled list.

Baek is 2-4 with a 9.27 ERA in seven starts this spring. Kevin Correia, who started for San Diego on Monday, is likely to take Baek's rotation spot should the injury linger into the season.

YANKS WATCHING CHAMBERLAIN (7:52 p.m. ET)
Joba Chamberlain needs to show Yankees manager Joe Girardi two things in his next-to-last spring training start for it to be considered a success.

"Efficency and location," Girardi said before leaving for Monday's road game against Toronto in Dunedin. "I'd like to get six innings if we could."

Chamberlain, the Yankees' No. 5 starter, is 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA in five major league spring training starts. However, the right-hander has pitched just 14 2/3 innings during the stretch, with a long of 4 1/3 innings.

Girardi feels it is "fairly important" that Chamberlain have a longer outing before spring training ends. His last scheduled preseason start is in a minor league intrasquad game Sunday in Florida.

Chamberlain split time last season between the bullpen and a starting role.

"As a reliever, it doesn't matter if you throw 25 pitches in an inning," Girardi said. "You do that as a starter, and you're not going to be deep into games. That's what we want all our starters to do."

JAYS WORRIED ABOUT RYAN (6:55 p.m. ET)
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston expressed concern about closer B.J. Ryan after he pitched a shaky eighth inning in Toronto's 3-1 loss to the Yankees.

Ryan gave up one run and two hits, including Angel Berroa's RBI double to left-center. The left-hander, who skipped the World Baseball Classic to work on his mechanics, has a 9.00 ERA this spring.

Gaston said he might consider making Scott Downs the closer and putting Ryan "somewhere else for a while and go from there." He said he wants to see how Ryan does in his final two spring appearances.

Ryan said he's moving in the right direction.

"The runs are just [from] pitching behind," he said. "Pitch behind in counts and you get in predictable counts. Aside from that there were some good things that came out of today."

JACKSON EARNS SPOT WITH TRIBE (6:40 p.m. ET)
Zach Jackson will open the season as the final pitcher on the Indians' staff.

The left-hander was told by manager Eric Wedge that he will be with the team when Cleveland opens the season in Texas against the Rangers on April 6.

"I'm excited, actually close to speechless right now," said Jackson, who was one of four players acquired by Cleveland in the July trade that sent CC Sabathia to the Brewers.

"We had discussions this morning and we're going with Zach," Wedge said, adding that veteran right-handers Matt Herges and Vinnie Chulk will be sent to Triple-A Columbus.

"Zach is a guy who is going to help us and I think sooner than later. He's had a very good camp."

Jackson began spring training in a competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but Wedge liked the way the 25-year-old worked in relief. In six outings over 18 1/3 innings, he had a 6.87 ERA, but had a good walks-to-strikeouts ratio of four to 11.

RAYS RELEASE ENSBERG (6:27 p.m. ET)
The Rays released former All-Star Morgan Ensberg.

The infielder agreed to a minor league deal with the Rays in February. He hit .227 with four RBIs this spring.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he appreciated Ensberg's efforts, but Tampa didn't have a place for him with the Triple-A club.

Ensberg, an All-Star with Houston in 2005, appeared in 28 games for the Yankees last season, batting .203 with one homer and four RBIs. He spent parts of the previous six seasons with the Astros and Padres, and is a career .263 hitter with 110 home runs.

DICE-K VS. KAWAKAMI (6:23 p.m. ET)
Kenshin Kawakami relished the opportunity to match up against fellow countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Matsuzaka allowed two hits and an earned run over five innings in his return to the Red Sox from the World Baseball Classic. Kawakami gave up a two-run homer to Rocco Baldelli for his only runs, and the Braves rallied to beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 10 innings on Monday.

More than 30 Japanese media members in the press box made the game a bit more intense for the starters.

"With so many media, I guess I felt a little more excited," Kawakami, who signed with the Braves this winter after starring in Japan, said through an interpreter. "If I was in Japan, I'd probably enjoy [the matchup] also."

Matsuzaka, who was the MVP of the tournament, liked the timing of the pitching pairing as he adjusted from the pressure of the WBC to spring training.

"Luckily today, going up against Kenshin-san on the other side gave me a change to get revved up," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "When I'm going up against any Japanese player, whether pitcher or position player, I'm always keeping an eye out on what kind of game they're going to pitch or how they're doing in the batter's box."

MAUER LIKELY TO STAY BEHIND (6:18 p.m. ET)
Twins All-Star catcher Joe Mauer likely won't travel with his team when it heads north to Minnesota next week.

Mauer, who is battling lingering pain and inflammation in his lower back, will consult with doctors and Twins officials in the next few days to evaluate his progress.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said there is no timetable for Mauer's return but that he seemed to be improving.

"He's moving around really good," Gardenhire said. "That's kind of nice. He has a smile on his face, which he hasn't had in a long time."

Mauer told reporters Sunday: "I feel the best I've felt all spring." The catcher said he hopes to engage in baseball activity this week but he's unsure when that will be.

"This week, I'm going to try to do more baseball stuff," Mauer said, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "When, I don't know. But it'll be good to get out there. I can't wait. It's been a long spring. But I'll put it all behind me when I get back on the field."

FULL DAY FOR SMOLTZ (5:36 p.m. ET)
John Smoltz was back in the Braves' clubhouse Monday, visiting his old team before heading off for a round of golf with Tiger Woods.

"It was good to see everybody," Smoltz, who ended his 20-year tenure with the Braves by signing with the Red Sox in January, said before Boston's spring game against Atlanta. "It was different. There are a lot of memories. ... You miss it. But it's time to move on."

Braves manager Bobby Cox said the clubhouse hasn't been nearly as loud this spring without Smoltz.

"You always heard him," Cox said. "[But] players move up."

During Smoltz's later years with the Braves, a golf date with Woods was always part of spring training. This round came a day after Woods' victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at nearby Bay Hill.

"I didn't see his [winning] putt, but I'll tell him I did," Smoltz said prior to leaving for Isleworth Country Club.

MOTTE THE MAIN MAN (5:26 p.m. ET)
The Cardinals reassigned Chris Perez to the minor leagues following their 2-1 victory over the Marlins on Monday, clearing the way for Jason Motte to get the bulk of the work as their closer.

Perez, a first round pick in 2006, experienced arm trouble earlier this spring. He entered Monday's game having made eight one-inning appearances and allowed only two earned runs.

"He's got 100 innings in minor league baseball," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's really such a young pitcher. He needs to work. He needs to work regularly. He can be the closer in Memphis and get valuable experience."

Perez's departure means Motte will get first crack at saving games, though La Russa will probably give opportunities to other relievers as well.

"We are going to use whoever is available but I would believe that Motte is going to get a chance to close games," La Russa said.

ROCKIES MAKE SOME MOVES (4:03 p.m. ET)
The Rockies have optioned outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Matt Murton and left-handed pitcher Greg Smith to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Colorado also reassigned catchers Edwin Bellorin and Paul Phillips and left-handed pitcher Randy Flores to their minor league camp.

The Rockies now have 34 players on their major league spring training roster, including eight non-roster invitees.

TIGERS DEAL FOR ANDERSON (3:31 p.m. ET)
The Detroit Tigers have acquired outfielder Josh Anderson in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

The Tigers sent minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow to Atlanta in Monday's deal.

Anderson hit three home runs and stole 10 bases in 40 games with the Braves last year.

Darrow played at Double-A Erie and Class A West Michigan last year. The 25-year-old right-hander finished 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 14 appearances at Erie and went 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 33 games with West Michigan.

The 26-year-old Anderson was a fourth-round draft pick in 2003.

DELLUCCI PLACED ON DL (3:23 p.m. ET)
The Cleveland Indians have placed outfielder Dave Dellucci on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf.

Dellucci hit .240 (6-for-25) with two homers and five RBIs in eight spring games for Cleveland. This is his sixth trip to the DL since reaching the majors in 1997 with the Baltimore Orioles.

The 35-year-old signed a three-year contract as a free agent before the 2007 season.

The Indians also recalled outfielder Trevor Crowe from Triple-A Columbus on Monday. Crowe, 25, batted .289 with one homer, three RBIs and went 6-for-6 in stolen-base attempts this spring before being optioned out on Saturday.

CARPAL TUNNEL LIMITS ARROYO (2:35 p.m. ET)
Bronson Arroyo is having a flare-up of the carpal tunnel syndrome that has bothered him from time to time over the last few years. This bout is especially nasty, along with the timing. The season starts in less than one week.

"I don't know what it's from, man," Arroyo said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I can't write. I can't do anything with my pointer finger and thumb without it being irritated. I had it back in '04 in the playoffs [with Boston] pitching against the Yankees. I've had it for years."

So far, Arroyo has been able to overcome the problem, which bothers him much more when he holds a pen or a guitar pick. It returned last May and gave him problems for about three months. Arroyo finished 15-11 with a 4.77 ERA last season, when he was the only Reds pitcher who didn't miss a start. He led the staff with 200 innings. The right-hander can pitch with the problem. He'd rather not have to try.

Arroyo hasn't done very well in his last two starts during spring training. He gave up 11 hits in five innings of a game against minor leaguers on March 24 and was pounded for 14 hits and 10 runs -- three earned -- in only 4 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay on Sunday. The Rays took advantage of his inability to throw a breaking ball, something he passed off as just a bad day. There's more to it, though.

Asked if the carpal tunnel bothers his hand when he's pitching, Arroyo said, "Yeah. It's almost like taking a 220 [volt] line of electricity and pinching it off and you're only getting about two-thirds of it. You feel like you don't have much power, and you don't have much command. So I've got about another week to try to get it out of there. We'll see."

BERKMAN HAS BICEPS TENDINITIS (2:18 p.m. ET)
Lance Berkman was diagnosed with biceps tendinitis Sunday after seeing the team's doctor.

The Astros slugger will sit out the next few days but he doesn't appear to be in jeopardy of missing Opening Day. He was scratched from the Astros' lineup Saturday.

"I don't think Lance feels it's anything of great significance," Astros GM Ed Wade said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "[Athletic trainer] Nate [Lucero] didn't want him to make the trip [Saturday] because if he went over there with orders to swing the bat X number of times he would have swung the X times one hundred times. We wanted to keep him from being tempted to do too much."

Berkman said his injury doesn't affect his swing. It only bothers him when he throws.

"I'm going to try to DH [Tuesday]," Berkman told MLB.com. "That's what I'd like to do, if they'll let me."

CUBS CUT BAKO, STANTON (2:14 p.m. ET)
The Cubs released veteran catcher Paul Bako and left-hander Mike Stanton. Bako, 36, was hitting .364 this spring after signing a free-agent contract with Chicago on Jan. 30. Stanton, 41, who was out of baseball last season after being released by the Reds on April, has a career record of 68-63 with a 3.92 ERA in 1,178 games.

The Cubs also announced that catcher Koyie Hill and first baseman Micah Hoffpauir have made the Opening Day roster. Hill, who spent most of last season at Triple-A Iowa while recovering from a hand injury sustained after the 2007 season, was batting .381 this spring. Hoffpauir was batting .295 this spring, with a team-high five home runs and major league-leading 22 RBIs.

ROMERO WINS ROTATION SPOT (11:56 a.m. ET)
Rookie Ricky Romero pitched himself into the Blue Jays' starting rotation, manager Cito Gaston said Monday.

The 24-year-old left-hander was in a competition with Brad Mills and Scott Richmond for the final two spots in Toronto's rotation. Mills and Richmond are still battling for the fifth spot.

The Blue Jays' rotation is led by right-handed ace Roy Halladay. Left-hander David Purcey occupies the No. 2 slot and righty Jesse Litsch will start out of the No. 3 hole.

PIRATES DEMOTE TOUTED PROSPECT (11:49 a.m. ET)
The Pittsburgh Pirates have sent center fielder Andrew McCutchen to minor league camp and optioned infielder Brian Bixler to Triple-A Indianapolis.

The 22-year-old McCutchen is one of the team's top prospects and was a first-round draft pick in 2005. This spring, he batted .318 with two home runs, seven RBIs, two stolen bases and a team-best 12 walks.

General manager Neal Huntington said he expects both McCutchen and Bixler will play for the Pirates at some point this season.

Bixler will be Indianapolis' starting shortstop, and will get some playing time at second base.

The Pirates have 35 players remaining in camp.

REDS' ROSTER DOWN TO 33 (11:47 a.m. ET)
The Cincinnati Reds got down to 33 players by sending outfielders Jacque Jones and Norris Hopper and right-hander Daryl Thompson to the minors.

The 33-year-old Jones signed with the Reds on Feb. 5, getting a chance to win a reserve spot. He went only 4-for-45 (.089) in spring training, and was reassigned to the minor league camp Monday.

The Reds optioned Hopper and Thompson to Triple-A Louisville. Hopper batted .132 this spring, costing him a shot at a reserve role. The 23-year-old Thompson jumped from Class A to Triple-A last season. The Reds want him to get more experience in the minors.

PHILLIES CUT INFIELDER GILES (10:25 a.m. ET)
The Phillies released veteran infielder Marcus Giles on Monday. Giles was in camp as a nonroster invitee.

They also informed reliever Gary Majewski, utility infielder Pablo Ozuna and outfielder John Mayberry Jr. they won't be making the team, but they will go north with the club and play in exhibition games in Philadelphia this weekend against Tampa Bay.

-- ESPN.com's Jayson Stark

MATTHEWS STEWS AFTER DEMOTION (9:34 a.m. ET)
Gary Matthews Jr., who is in the third year of a five-year, $50 million contract, was told Sunday in a meeting with club officials that he will start the season as the Angels' fifth outfielder. He didn't take the news well.

Matthews did not travel with the team Sunday to play the Rangers. Instead, he requested and was granted a day off to cool off. He wasn't in a talking mood when approached by reporters.

"Just give me a day, guys, OK?" Matthews told reporters, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Thanks."

It is unclear if Matthews has requested a trade, but when asked by reporters if he was being dealt, he said "no."

Angels general manager Tony Reagins said that currently he has no plans to deal Matthews and wouldn't disclose details of the meeting.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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SCHMIDT UPS WORKLOAD (9:57 p.m. ET)
Jason Schmidt knows he won't be ready when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the season.

Schmidt threw 51 pitches, his most in a Cactus League game this spring, but allowed three runs, three doubles and three walks in 3 1/3 innings Sunday. San Diego beat the Dodgers 7-3 for its third straight victory after a 4-17-4 start.

Schmidt, who expects to begin the season making minor league rehab starts, struck out two in a perfect first inning before allowing a two-run double to Everth Cabrera in the second.

The right-hander began spring training hoping to be the Dodgers' No. 5 starter, but he's been unable to pitch full-tilt and has had trouble recovering from even short stints.

WOOD, DEROSA GET TO CUBS (9:22 p.m. ET)
Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood each had an excellent day against their former team.

DeRosa homered his first two times up, doubled and hit a sacrifice fly to lead the Cleveland Indians over the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Sunday.

Wood, the Cubs' closer last season, had a solid outing for Cleveland. He worked a scoreless seventh inning, walking one and striking out one.

The Cubs traded DeRosa to the Indians on Dec. 31 for three minor league pitching prospects. He hit both home runs and the double against Chicago starter Ted Lilly.

A'S TALK TO GALLAGHER (9:20 p.m. ET)
It was another rough day for an Oakland Athletics starting pitcher.

Sean Gallagher gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings Sunday, and then was summoned into a meeting with general manager Billy Beane. Gallagher emerged a few minutes later and said that Beane had just wanted to "light a little fire under my butt."

"It wasn't a good day of executing pitches for me," the right-hander added.

NATS SCRATCH CABRERA (9:19 p.m. ET)
Washington right-hander Daniel Cabrera was pulled because of neck spasms sustained Saturday while swinging in batting practice.

Nationals manager Manny Acta said he's not sure if the injury will affect Cabrera's ability to make his first scheduled start of the season April 8 against the Marlins.

Cabrera is day to day and hopes to get one more exhibition start this week.

"The plan is, we've got to wait and see how he is today and then try to plan accordingly," Acta said. "You can't plan on him throwing unless he's able to. He'll have another [exhibition] start. He's not a guy to worry about because he's a guy who pitched winter ball, so he's been stretched out and all that."

GARDNER NAMED YANKS' CF (7:07 p.m. ET)
Brett Gardner has won the Yankees' starting center field job.

New York manager Joe Girardi announced Sunday that Gardner beat out Melky Cabrera this spring for the starting spot on Opening Day.

The speedy Gardner had a .228 batting average over 42 games in 2008, but was successful on 13 of 14 stolen-base attempts. He is hitting .385 with five stolen bases in 22 spring training games.

The Yankees plan to have Cabrera on the regular-season roster in a backup role.

PADRES' BAEK HURT (6:38 p.m. ET)
San Diego's starting pitching is thin to begin with and things didn't improve Sunday when Cha Seung Baek left his game against the Dodgers with a strained forearm flexor in his right arm.

"We'll re-evaluate it in 24 hours to see how significant an injury it is because right now its really hard to tell,'' Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson said. "Right now I'd say it's very mild but we have to see if there is any swelling and how sore it is when he comes in in the morning. Once we re-evaluate we'll see where we go. It doesn't look bad right now.''

Baek, who figures to be the No. 3 starter if healthy, entered the game with a 1-4 record and 9.95 ERA in six Cactus League starts. He gave up five hits and two runs, walked two and struck out two in 3 1/3 innings before the injury Sunday.

-- ESPN.com's Jim Caple

HOFFMAN PLAYS CATCH (5:33 p.m. ET)
New Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman will still likely start the season on the disabled list, but he did make some progress on Sunday.

Hoffman played catch for the first time since March 20 when he was shut down with a strained muscle along his right side, according to MLB.com. The all-time saves leader and the Brewers trainer reportedly told manager Ken Macha that they were encouraged by the session.

"We still have a long way to go, but we're making progress," Macha said, according to MLB.com.

Although Hoffman will travel with the team when it breaks camp, he may still face a minor league rehabilitation assignment before making his Brewers debut.

"We're not even at step one," Macha said, according to the Web site. "Until he gets throwing on the mound, it's hard to do projections."

BIG UNIT FEELS READY (5:26 p.m. ET)
Randy Johnson thinks he's ready for the regular season despite some down time this spring.

Johnson, preparing for his first season with San Francisco, threw 80 pitches in a minor league camp game Sunday, giving up seven hits and two runs in his final Arizona appearance.

The Big Unit was 1-2 with a 2.38 ERA in four spring training starts. He faced minor leaguers twice and missed one start because of biceps tenderness.

"I feel good where I'm at now," said the 45-year-old lefty, five wins short of 300. Every pitcher goes through a tired arm, whether you are my age or 25. I'm not Nostradamus. I don't know if I'll have it again."

Johnson will make his last exhibition start Thursday against Oakland in the Bay Area series before pitching in the Giants' second regular-season game April 8 against Milwaukee.

MORROW TO BEGIN AS RELIEVER (5:20 p.m. ET)
Brandon Morrow will begin the season in the bullpen. Whether that's with the Seattle Mariners or in the minor leagues will be determined by his health.

Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said Sunday morning that because of Morrow's lack of innings this spring, he'll begin work as a reliever rather than in the starting rotation as originally planned. Morrow has been limited to three spring appearances because of forearm stiffness.

This won't be a temporary move to build arm strength after Morrow missed much of spring training with forearm stiffness. Morrow said the move was determined a week ago, adding that he "feels at home" in the bullpen and doesn't envision returning to a starting role.

"There's no discussion about going back so far," said Morrow, taken with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft and pegged since then as a starter. "I think that I'd be more useful as a bullpen pitcher than a starting pitcher."

He's scheduled to throw in games Tuesday and Wednesday if his arm is well enough.

The Mariners also optioned catcher Jeff Clement to Triple-A Tacoma. Clement was Seattle's top pick and third overall in 2005. Clement has struggled at the plate after batting .295 in 66 big-league games last year with five home runs and 23 RBIs in 203 at-bats.

PADRES TRADE BURKE TO M's (4:37 p.m. ET)
The Padres traded veteran infielder Chris Burke, who wasn't going to make the team's major league roster, to the Mariners on Sunday for cash considerations.

The trade of Burke all but guarantees that infielder Everth Cabrera, who was selected in the Rule 5 draft during the winter meetings, will make the Padres' Opening Day roster.

Burke hit .281 in 32 spring at-bats. He signed a non-guaranteed minor league contract with San Diego in the offseason.

"The bottom line is they like who they have. I think I've played well, but they like who they have. The reality is when you're a non-roster player, things could break that way," he said, according to MLB.com. "Unfortunately for me, they didn't think I was a good fit for them."

OHMAN TRIES OUT FOR DODGERS (3:35 p.m. ET)
Left-hander reliever Will Ohman pitched a two-inning simulated game against minor leaguers for the Dodgers on Sunday.

Manager Joe Torre and most of the Dodgers' front office were in attendance to watch Ohman, who is the top available reliever still on the market. Los Angeles is in need of a left-handed setup man after Joe Beimel signed with the Nationals earlier this offseason.

Ohman is reportedly seeking a contract worth at least $2 million for the upcoming season.

SHOULDER BOTHERS BERKMAN (2:18 p.m. ET)
The Astros are going to be without slugger Lance Berkman for the next few days as the first baseman struggles with a sore left shoulder.

And Berkman paints a grim picture of the pain he's having. The team hopes he'll be available to play a week from Monday in the team's regular-season opener.

"It's not a pending surgery, but let me say this -- it's more painful and worse than I initially thought," Berkman said, according to MLB.com. Berkman however, said he has no doubts he'll be able to play on Opening Day.

Berkman initially tweaked the shoulder early in camp and has since aggravated the shoulder with a diving play in a game against the Phillies on Friday and a recent batting practice session.

In other Astros moves, the team released utilityman David Newhan and assigned Chad Paronto to minor league camp.

LOWE TO START BOTH BRAVES' OPENERS (2:01 p.m. ET)
New Braves ace Derek Lowe not only will start the team's opener against the Phillies on April 5, he'll also take the mound for the team's home opener on April 10 against the Nationals.

Lowe isn't taking the responsibilities lightly.

"There's nothing wrong with saying you're going to be nervous," Lowe said, according to MLB.com. "There's no doubt. It's not only my Opening Day. But it's my Opening Day for a new team and no matter where I would have pitched in the rotation, there would have been some nervousness and anxiousness because you want to get off to a good start."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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LINCECUM LOOKS SHARP IN TUNEUP (10:55 p.m. ET)
Tim Lincecum got in some work on the mound in a minor league warmup against the Los Angeles Angels.

The NL Cy Young winner, trying to improve his mechanics, allowed one run on five hits and struck out six in five innings Saturday night for the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco held Lincecum out of the team's game against San Diego because he could face the Padres twice in the first three weeks of the regular season. Lincecum is scheduled to start the first game of the Bay Area series against Oakland on Thursday before facing Milwaukee in the Giants' regular-season opener April 7 at AT&T Park.

"I can't emphasize it enough, the rhythm thing," Lincecum said. "I just haven't found a consistent track to keep holding onto that rhythm. It's a little frustrating, but I'm glad I got a little bit more time before the season starts. [Spring training] is always a matter of trying to get everything back. It's a matter of getting your body used to the games, the grind, everything. Just taking all that in.

"Every year, it's trying to get that again and again."

HAMMEL MAKES CASE FOR ROTATION (7:14 p.m. ET)
Jason Hammel made his case to win a spot in Tampa Bay's starting rotation, tossing five scoreless innings in the Rays' 5-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Hammel walked Willy Taveras to start the game, but picked him off first base for the first out. Hammel sailed from there, allowing just two hits and striking out four.

"I just went back to the aggressive approach that I was using early in camp," Hammel said. "It was basically just attack. I wasn't going to walk guys today. The one walk to Willy was pretty close."

Manager Joe Maddon was pleased with the way Hammel commanded his fastball, pounding it low in the strike zone. He also liked the way the right-hander was able to shake off his previous outing against the Pirates, in which he allowed four runs on six hits and walked five in four innings against the Pirates.

Hammel is competing with Jeff Niemann for the final spot with the runner-up headed to the bullpen as the long man.

LACKEY RECEIVES CORTISONE SHOT (5:53 p.m. ET)
John Lackey received a cortisone shot to hasten the healing process for his sore right elbow Saturday.

"It's difficult to quantify but I don't think it's anything major," said Dr. Lewis Yokum, who flew in to examine Lackey. "Obviously it's frustrating for him."

Yokum said the current elbow strain is unrelated to the elbow injury that caused Lackey to miss the first six weeks of last season. This strain is on the inside of the elbow while last year's was on the outside.

Lackey, who will almost certainly open the season on the disabled list, will rest the arm for at least three to four days. Yokum said it's a coin flip as to how long he'll need once he begins throwing again. "Hopefully we got the elbow quieted down. It could be a couple weeks. But if we didn't get rid of the inflammation, it could be longer.''

With Ervin Santana (elbow) and Kelvim Escobar (labrum) also likely to open the year on the d.l., Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, Dustin Mosely, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux are the probable rotation when the season opens.

Escobar threw 40 pitches and retired the first 10 batters he faced in a minor league game Saturday.

-- ESPN.com writer Jim Caple

MARTIS, ZIMMERMAN IN ROTATION (4:45 p.m. ET)
Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmermann have won the last two spots in the Washington Nationals' starting rotation.

Martis will start the year on the big league roster, but Zimmermann will start the year in the minors before his first start against Florida on April 19.

The Nationals also placed outfielder Wily Mo Pena on waivers Saturday, and reassigned infielder Jose Castillo and outfielder Corey Patterson to minor league camp.

Catcher Javier Valentin also was reassigned, but opted out to become a free agent. Pitcher Collin Balester also was reassigned to Triple-A Syracuse.

MARLINS GET C PAULINO IN TRADE (4:26 p.m. ET)

Catcher Ronny Paulino was traded Saturday for the second time in 24 hours and the third time since December, and he's now with the Florida Marlins.

The San Francisco Giants sent Paulino to Florida for minor-league right-hander Hector Correa. The deal was announced Saturday after Paulino was traded Friday night to the Giants from the Philadelphia Phillies for left-handed pitcher Jack Taschner.

Paulino is expected to share playing time with John Baker. Paulino was traded to the Phillies from Pittsburgh last Dec. 10 for catcher Jason Jaramillo. He had spent his entire career with the Pirates and hit .212 last year while being limited to 40 games because of a sprained ankle.

JETER HURTS FINGER, STAYS IN GAME (3:51 p.m. ET)
Derek Jeter bruised a knuckle on his left pinkie during a collision at first base in the first inning of the New York Yankees' game against Atlanta on Saturday, but remained in the game.

He played three innings in the field, and the team said Jeter is fine.

The Yankees captain ran into Braves first baseman Greg Norton, who moved along the first-base line to catch a throw from second baseman Martin Prado after Prado fielded Jeter's grounder.

REDS' HARANG SHEDS POUNDS (3:41 p.m. ET)
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Aaron Harang got a quicker start on his offseason conditioning program.

The stocky starter lost 33 pounds in an effort to make sure last year's hideous 6-17 season didn't happen again.

The 6-foot-7 pitcher is noticeably thinner around the middle. During his career-worst season in 2008, he topped out at 284 pounds. He was hurt for nearly a month, with a strained right forearm disabling him from mid-July to early August.

"That was a tough year on him last year," manager Dusty Baker said. "Different people handle those tough years in a different way. But I think he really dedicated himself over the winter. You don't lose that weight in a month. You dedicate yourself for three or four months. It's really tough to do that.

"It shows you how badly he wanted to return to excellence."

Once glance says it all.

INDIANS SEND CROWE, GIMINEZ TO MINORS (3:32 p.m. ET)
The Cleveland Indians optioned outfielder Trevor Crowe and utility player Chris Gimenez to Triple-A Columbus of the International League on Saturday.

Crowe, drafted in the first round out of Arizona in 2005, lost a battle to veterans Tony Graffanino and Josh Barfield for the final position-player spot on the roster. The switch-hitter batted .289 with one homer and three RBIs in 17 spring exhibition games.

The 26-year-old Gimenez hit .357 with two homers and seven RBIs in 20 games at catcher, first base, third base, left field and right field.

"He's put himself on the radar," Wedge said of Gimenez, a 19th-round pick out of Nevada in 2004.

PIRATES SEND DOWN DIAZ, PEARCE (3:04 p.m. ET)
The Pirates reduced their spring training roster to 37 players Saturday by optioning outfielder Steve Pearce and catcher Robinzon Diaz to Triple-A Indianapolis and assigning infielder Anderson Machado to their minor league camp.

Diaz was sent down after the Pirates settled on Jason Jaramillo as catcher Ryan Doumit's backup. Jaramillo was acquired during the offseason from the Phillies for former Pirates starting catcher Ronny Paulino, was dealt by Philadelphia to San Francisco on Friday for reliever Jack Taschner.

Pearce was unable to break into a now-crowded outfield that added Eric Hinske and Craig Monroe during the offseason and is expected to play first base at Indianapolis. Pearce hit .212 this spring with no homers and three RBIs.

LEYLAND: BONDERMAN NOT READY YET (2:32 p.m. ET)
Don't count on seeing starter Jeremy Bonderman or reliever Joel Zumaya on Detroit's active roster when the Tigers start the regular season.

"In my personal opinion, it's highly unlikely that [Bonderman] will be ready to start the season," manager Jim Leyland said Saturday in Dunedin, Fla., where the Tigers were playing the Blue Jays.

Leyland said the same goes for Zumaya, who has yet to pitch in an actual game this spring. Zumaya threw in a minor-league intrasquad game on Saturday, but the team didn't disclose the results of that outing.

Bonderman is scheduled to start on Sunday in Lakeland and throw 50 pitches against the Braves.

Last season, the Tigers unsuccessfully tried to bring Bonderman and Zumaya back from injuries. It didn't work, and there won't be a repeat of that strategy this year, Leyland said.

"We've gotta use our brains [with Bonderman]," Leyland said. "The same goes for Zumaya. We're not going to rush them back. ... I've had enough of that. We don't want to go through that again."

If Bonderman isn't ready for Opening Day, Zach Miner is likely to wind up in the Tigers' rotation. And 20-year-old Rick Porcello, a highly-touted prospect, is still very much in the mix for a roster spot.

How much? Leyland, rather than take the bus from Lakeland to Dunedin on Saturday morning, stayed behind to watch Porcello throw a bullpen session, then drove to Dunedin on his own.

Leyland said he wanted to have a few words with Porcello. "I just wanted to talk to him. I wanted to make a few comments. I think that was really important," he said.

-- ESPN.com baseball writer Jayson Stark

LACKEY EXPECTED TO MISS OPENER (1:07 p.m. ET)

John Lackey is doubtful to start for the Angels on Opening Day after an MRI revealed inflammation in his throwing elbow. Lackey was expected to start the season on the disabled list.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Friday that "right now, it's definitely unlikely" Lackey will be ready for the April 6 game against the Oakland Athletics, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Lackey joins Ervin Santana, out with a sprained elbow ligament, and Kelvim Escobar, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, as Angels starters recovering from injury.

"We have starting pitching depth, but right now we're stretching it as far as we're comfortable with," Scioscia said, according to the newspaper.

RED SOX TO START BECKETT IN OPENER (11:45 a.m. ET)
The Boston Red Sox will send Josh Beckett to the mound on Opening Day against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager Terry Francona said Saturday. James Shields will oppose Beckett in the opener, on Monday, April 6 at Fenway Park. On Wednesday, the Red Sox will start Jon Lester against the Rays' Scott Kazmir.

On Thursday, Daisuke Matsuzaka will go for Boston against Tampa Bay's Matt Garza.

Francona also said that Lester and Matsuzaka will start a pair of exhibition games April 3-4 against the New York Mets at their new home, Citi Field.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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ZAMBRANO GOES SIX INNINGS (9:25 p.m. ET)

Carlos Zambrano is ready to head to Chicago.

The Cubs ace threw 89 pitches over six innings and gave up two runs, helping the Cubs beat the White Sox 9-4 Friday in Mesa, Ariz.

"The only bad thing was that in a couple of innings, I had to rush," Zambrano said. "I tried to do too much. Everything went good today, and I'm ready for my next outing, and I'm ready for the season."

Zambrano allowed five hits and two walks while striking out three.

DICE-K HAS BULLPEN SESSION (6:48 p.m. ET)
Daisuke Matsuzaka had his first bullpen session Friday of the spring with the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla., after being named the MVP of the World Baseball Classic.

Matsuzaka struggled with his control in the 54-pitch session ahead of his first Grapefruit League game of the season Monday against the Braves in Orlando.

Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said Matsuzaka's wildness was understandable considering all the travel he has done.

Matsuzaka was 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in the WBC for Japan. Last season, Matsuzaka was 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA for Boston. He led the majors in opponents' batting average at .211.

REDS' PINCH-HITTING PITCHER? (4:53 p.m. ET)
Micah Owings is in line for an unusual role for the Cincinnati Reds this season. If he wins the fifth spot in the rotation -- he appears to be first in line at the moment -- he'll take on the role of pinch-hitter the other four days of the week.

Manager Dusty Baker wouldn't hesitate to bring this pitcher off the bench.

"Everybody knows he can hit," Baker said.

The stocky pitcher -- he's currently 6-foot-5, 220 pounds -- has always been able to hit. He was Georgia's high school player of the year after leading Gainesville High to the state title in 2002 with 12 wins, a 1.03 ERA, a .448 batting average and 25 homers, a single-season state record. He hit 69 homers in high school.

He kept up both roles at Georgia Tech and Tulane, where he was a pitcher and designated hitter. When Arizona took him in the third round of the June 2005 draft, the Diamondbacks realized he was something special.

CLOSER'S ROLE STILL SHERRILL'S (10:15 a.m. ET)
George Sherrill, who was handed the closer's job at the beginning of Baltimore Orioles camp, still has it despite being hit hard in relief this spring.

Sherrill allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while getting one out Thursday against Florida. He now has a 6.75 ERA in six outings, with 13 hits and 17 total baserunners allowed in 5 1/3 innings.

"It's usually bad until the last couple of days when mechanics work themselves out. I'll get there. I'm not worried about it," Sherrill said.

According to The (Baltimore) Sun, Sherrill said he would not protest if manager Dave Trembley had Chris Ray start the season as closer.

"He [Ray] has looked good this spring,'' Sherrill said, according to The Sun. "If that's something they want to do, that's fine. All I want to do is win. I don't care what my title is."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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SUZUKI ARRIVES AT M'S SPRING CAMP (7:50 p.m. ET)
Ichiro Suzuki joined the Seattle Mariners for the first time this spring and showed why he's so valuable to the team despite rumblings that he was a divisive force in the clubhouse.

Fresh off a second World Baseball Classic title with Japan, Suzuki made his Cactus League debut by slapping a pair of singles and scoring a run in a 10-9 win over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

The eight-time All-Star played five innings and got his first taste of life in the same outfield with Ken Griffey Jr., his idol while playing in Japan. But everyone wanted to know what he thought about comments from former teammates and coaches this spring that Suzuki's behavior led to bickering by other players.

When asked about those comments, Suzuki felt addressing it was "silly" and said through a translator, "I hate to be wasting time with this kind of thing. I'm surprised at this."

"We're all professionals here. Is it at a level where I have to explain to other people the reasons why I do things?" Suzuki said. "We are all professionals. It makes me feel like a mom telling a child, 'This is why I do things.' So the problem, once again, is we were still at that level."

BRAVES' LOWE SHARP IN START (5:18 p.m. ET)
The Braves signed Derek Lowe to be their ace, and he's pitching like one. Lowe struck out seven in six sharp innings for the Braves, but the Blue Jays rallied for a 7-5 victory.

The Braves gave Lowe a four-year, $60 million free-agent contract to lead their revamped rotation. He gave up a run and five hits without walking a batter, lowering his spring ERA to 3.27. He has 24 strikeouts in 22 innings.

"He was good again," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He's had a terrific spring."

Cox hasn't decided on his Opening Day starter, but Lowe is in line for the honor. Cox said he might have a decision by Friday.

"It hasn't been brought up," Lowe said when asked about starting on opening night at Philadelphia on April 5.

RANGERS CUT DONNELLY (3:24 p.m. ET)
The Rangers took Brendan Donnelly out of the mix for one of their four remaining bullpen spots, releasing the former All-Star reliever.

"The guy took the ball when we sent him out there ..." manager Ron Washington said, according to MLB.com. "But with the guys we have left in camp, we feel we can find seven guys to fill the roles we're looking for."

Donnelly said he was surprised by his release. According to the contract he signed with the Rangers this offseason, he could have become a free agent Friday if the team didn't add him to its major league roster.

"I didn't see this one coming," Donnelly said, according to MLB.com. "Basically I don't know if the out-date came into play. We were going to talk to them this morning about extending it. I thought I was throwing the ball pretty good. I gave up a couple of runs but I was told not to walk anybody and I didn't.

"I came in there and pounded the zone. Spring training is a process, each day you work on something and then you put the final package together at the end. I thought I've thrown the ball better than I have the past couple of years."

M'S SEND FOUR TO MINOR LEAGUE CAMP (2:01 p.m. ET)
Infielder Matt Tuiasosopo has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. Seattle also reassigned catcher Adam Moore, right-hander Sean White and catcher Jason Phillips to its minor league camp.

Tuiasosopo had an impressive spring training, hitting .404 with seven doubles and a pair of home runs, and his improved defense at third base caught the attention of manager Don Wakamatsu.

Moore, among the Mariners' top prospects, appeared in 11 spring training games. But his playing time figured to decrease following the return of Kenji Johjima from the World Baseball Classic.

INDIANS SEND CANNIZARO TO MINORS (1:11 p.m. ET)
Infielder Andy Cannizaro has been assigned to the Cleveland Indians' minor league training camp.

Cannizaro hit .227 with one home run and two RBIs in 16 spring training games.

The Indians are the third organization for the 30-year-old, who has a .274 average in 734 minor league games. Cannizaro played in 13 games for the New York Yankees in 2006 and one game for Tampa Bay last year, then was purchased by Cleveland from the Rays last August.

PEREZ: WBC HURT PREPARATION (11:40 a.m. ET)
New York Mets left-hander Oliver Perez believes he's behind in his preparation because of pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Perez, who pitched only two times in 19 days during the WBC, has thrown 8 2/3 innings in the Grapefruit League and gave up six runs, five hits and six walks in 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday.

Even fellow starter Mike Pelfrey, who missed one turn in the rotation because of a leg muscle strain, has thrown almost 30 innings.

"I just threw like six innings in 19 days. That's not easy to come back here after," Perez said Thursday. "I am behind from these guys - they have more than 15 innings. I have two more starts, and I have to prepare and get ready."

Mets manager Jerry Manuel and pitching coach Dan Warthen both expressed concern over Perez's physical condition following Wednesday's game. When asked about the impression that he looked out of shape, Perez said it was simply a matter of getting in the exercises he missed while with the Mexico team.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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HARDEN BACK ON MOUND (11:56 p.m. ET)
Chicago Cubs right-hander Rich Harden pitched four innings in a minor league game Wednesday.

Harden was scratched from his March 20 start because of a stomach ailment, which he attributed to food poisoning. He threw 63 pitches against Sacramento, the Oakland Athletics' Triple-A affiliate.

"I felt pretty good," he said. "I think I'm going to be feeling better five days from now."

Harden is scheduled to start Monday against Kansas City and next Saturday in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees at new Yankee Stadium. He is on track to start the fourth game of the regular season, April 10 at Milwaukee.

Harden has a history of shoulder problems, and the Cubs have been easing him into action this spring. He has pitched in only two Cactus League games, going 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA.

RED SOX GET CHERRY (10:33 p.m. ET)
The Boston Red Sox have signed right-hander Rocky Cherry to a minor league contract.

The 29-year-old Cherry was 0-3 with a save and a 6.35 ERA in 18 relief appearances for the Baltimore Orioles last year. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he was 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 28 relief appearances.

MARLINS MAKE DEAL (10:31 p.m. ET)
The Florida Marlins traded right-hander Eulogio De La Cruz to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

The Marlins said they would get a player to be named or cash in the deal, while the Padres' release just mentioned a player to be named.

De La Cruz was acquired by the Marlins in an eight-player trade with the Detroit Tigers in December 2007. He made his major league debut last season and had no record with an ERA of 18.00 in six games.

The Marlins also optioned right-hander Tim Wood to Double-A Jacksonville and reassigned infielder Chris Coghlan to their minor league camp.

HUNTER BANGED UP (9:41 p.m. ET)
A stiff wind blowing out to center field made things difficult for the pitchers Wednesday. Torii Hunter had it worse, though

The Angels center fielder had a ball deflect off his nose in the first inning, turning a drive by Jeff Baker into a two-run inside-the-park homer, but Los Angeles beat the Colorado Rockies 18-11.

Hunter tried to make a leaping catch at the wall but the ball hit the padding and struck him in the face. He had to leave the game. X-rays were negative.

Jered Weaver was hit hard again, giving up seven hits, six runs -- five earned -- and three homers in 4 1/3 innings.

Jason Marquis allowed 10 hits, 12 runs -- 11 earned -- with four walks over 3 1/3.

COLON LOOKS GOOD (9:16 p.m. ET)
Bartolo Colon took a big step toward making the Chicago White Sox's starting rotation Wednesday, pitching two-hit ball into the fifth inning of a 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Colon, coming back from offseason elbow surgery, struck out four in 4 1/3 innings and did not walk a batter. He threw 33 of 43 pitches for strikes.

Also for the White Sox, Jose Contreras gave up four runs -- three earned -- in four innings, while striking out three and walking one. Contreras is coming back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He originally wasn't expected back until midseason.

ORIOLES TRIM DOWN (9:15 p.m. ET)
John Parrish and Brad Hennessey, minor league invitees who were competing for spots in the starting rotation before getting hurt, were among eight cuts made by the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Parrish will return to Baltimore this week to undergo diagnostic arthroscopic left shoulder surgery to determine the cause of soreness. Hennessey injured his right elbow in the Orioles' Grapefruit League opener and hasn't appeared in an exhibition game since.

Both were reassigned to the team's minor league camp in Sarasota along with infielders Donnie Murphy and Justin Turner, and outfielder Justin Christian.

PAVANO BOUNCES BACK (8:20 p.m. ET)
Carl Pavano rebounded from a rough outing with six strong innings Wednesday, and the Cleveland Indians beat the San Diego Padres 8-4.

Pavano, who appeared in only 26 games in four seasons for the Yankees after signing a $39.95 million contract in 2005, has had his share of struggles this spring. He entered the game with a 9.82 ERA, but threw 53 of 77 pitches for strikes Wednesday and was the first Indians pitcher to go six innings this spring. He gave up six runs over four innings in his last start.

ASTROS RELEASE GRAVES (7:41 p.m. ET)
Right-hander Danny Graves has been granted his release by the Houston Astros.

The club announced the move Wednesday.

The move makes Graves, an 11-year-veteran, a free agent.

He began spring training with the major league club, posting a 6.43 ERA in seven relief appearances. He was reassigned to minor league camp on Sunday and was given permission to talk to other teams.

Graves has a career record of 43-44 with 182 saves and a 4.05 ERA in 518 games with Cleveland, Cincinnati and the New York Mets.

CARDS SEE REYES; ASTROS' ORTIZ ON (6:55 p.m. ET)
Dennys Reyes made his debut in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform Wednesday, pitching a scoreless inning of relief in a 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros.

Reyes, who is with his 10th club after signing a two-year deal with the Cardinals earlier this month, showed little signs of rust after having not thrown since making three appearances for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Mexico was eliminated in the second round March 16.

On Wednesday, he entered the game in the top of the eighth with the score tied at 3 and faced four batters, surrendering only a double to Hunter Pence.

Houston's starter Russ Ortiz is competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation and had a two-hit shutout going into the fourth inning before giving up back-to-back, two-out doubles to Ryan Ludwick and Khalil Greene.

Ortiz left after the fifth inning, having allowed one run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. His delivery and routine on the mound were hampered because of a stomach illness.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa left before the game started to fly to Richmond, Va., for the visitation for his mother-in-law, Mozelle Coker, who died Monday. He also will miss Thursday's game against the New York Mets.

PEREZ WILD; ROBERTSON HURT (5:55 p.m. ET)
Oliver Perez's outing Wednesday alarmed his manager, not because he gave up six runs but because he walked six in 3 2/3 innings of the New York Mets' 10-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

Tigers starter Nate Robertson left the game with a sprained thumb on his pitching hand. Robertson, competing for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, was hit by a throw while trying to cover first base in the bottom of the first inning.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said he will watch Perez, who gave up five hits, carefully in his next couple of outings.

"I think when you don't have command and you don't have that extra velocity, you're going to struggle and that's what happened today," Manuel said. "[Perez] had neither. We have some things to work out."

Tigers shortstop Adam Everett also left the game in the top of the first after spraining his ankle sliding into second base.

Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez and set-up man J.J. Putz saw their first game action since returning from the World Baseball Classic. Each tossed a scoreless inning in a minor league game Wednesday.

PETTITTE THROWS IN MINOR LEAGUE GAME (5:10 p.m. ET)
Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte threw 83 pitches over 5 1/3 innings in a minor league game on Wednesday.

Pettitte allowed five runs -- one earned -- and seven hits for Class A Tampa against Philadelphia's Clearwater team. All the runs came in the second, when Tampa committed three errors.

"I felt good with everything," Pettitte said. "Obviously you always wish you could have a little better command sometimes. All in all, it was good. Got through it. Stretched me out."

Pettitte struck out three and walk one. He had an aching left shoulder during the latter part of 2008, but has experienced no problems during spring training.

"It's been great," Pettitte said. "I didn't think it was going to be a concern going into the season. I'm hoping that I worked hard enough that I shouldn't have any problems."

Pettitte went 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA in 33 starts last year.

BREWERS RELEASE NIXON (4:26 p.m. ET)
Veteran outfielder Trot Nixon was released by the Milwaukee Brewers, leaving three players competing for two outfield spots on the Opening Day roster.

Nixon, who will be 35 on April 11, was a non-roster invitee with four hits in 38 spring at-bats.

Brewers manager Ken Macha on Wednesday said the decision was tough because Nixon's career meant so much to him. Macha managed Nixon for four years in Boston's minor league system.

Macha asked general manager Doug Melvin to release Nixon now so he might catch on with another major league team. Nixon has 137 homers and 555 RBIs with a .274 average over 12 seasons, 10 with Boston.

Tony Gwynn Jr., Chris Duffy and Brad Nelson are the finalists for the two backup slots.

CHISOX PULL BACK ON BUERHLE (1:23 p.m. ET)
Left-hander Mark Buehrle will be held out of his scheduled start Thursday against Arizona, but the White Sox were hardly sounding an alarm.

"We're going to take care of Buehrle, meaning we're not going to pile up innings or pile up work," pitching coach Don Cooper told reporters Tuesday. "He'll be in line for the opener."

Rather than start against the D-backs, Buehrle is expected to throw a side session that day, rest for a few days, then make a final spring start next Tuesday. If he's fine in the coaching staff's eyes, he'll get a five-day respite before getting Chicago's Opening Day start at home against Kansas City on April 6.

"Buehrle is fine," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We have a different schedule for him right now. I expect him to be ready for the start of the season. He's going to throw on the side the next couple of days and we'll see, but the one guy we have to worry about the least is him."

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JETER RETURNS TO YANKEES (10:35 p.m. ET)
Derek Jeter rejoined the Yankees from the World Baseball Classic and was in the starting lineup at shortstop for Tuesday night's game against Boston.

Jeter received a loud ovation from fans at George M. Steinbrenner Field when he batted for the first time in the first inning. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and played seven innings in the Yankees' 7-1 win over the Red Sox.

"It's important he's here," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "It's really exciting. It's important to come together as a team."

Jeter, who grounded out in the first, hit a soft liner to right for a fourth-inning single and walked during the sixth against Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, will play in most of the Yankees' remaining spring training games in preparation for the regular-season opener April 6 at Baltimore.

"We've still got what, a week and a half?" he said. "I don't see it being an issue. I've got plenty of time. Physically I'm fine. It's good to get back and now get into a routine of playing every day."

BYRNES BACK TO NORMAL (9:15 p.m. ET)
Eric Byrnes appears to be fully recovered from the hamstring problems that sidelined him for much of last season -- at least at the plate.

Byrnes had two more hits Tuesday for the Diamondbacks in a 7-3 loss to the Giants.

The Diamondback outfielder had singles in his first two at-bats, giving him five straight hits after going 0-for-3 in his first game since being sidelined June 30 because of a hamstring injury.

"To string together five in a row, I am not going to complain about that, especially when they all were hit pretty solidly," Byrnes said.

Byrnes went hitless in his spring debut March 20, was 3-for-3 in his second outing before getting a run-scoring single in the first inning against the Giants. He added another hit in the third, and had a stolen base.

"I feel like I am fighting for playing time. Any time I go out there, that is my mentality," Byrnes said.

PROGRESS MADE BY PHILS (8:37 p.m. ET)
Chase Utley hit his first home run since hip surgery and Chan Ho Park made his latest bid for a rotation spot, helping the Phillies rally past the Blue Jays 7-6.

Utley drove in three runs, two on a homer off closer B.J. Ryan. It was the All-Star second baseman's first long ball since he had hip surgery in November.

Park gave up three runs and four hits in four innings. He struck out seven and walked one. The veteran right-hander is competing with 26-year-old lefty J.A. Happ for the final spot in Philadelphia's rotation.

"It didn't hurt him at all," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We need people to get people out. That's what we're looking for."

YANKS A HOT TICKET (7:23 p.m. ET)
The Yankees put individual game tickets on sale for the first season of their new ballpark and said they had sold 170,000 by midday Tuesday.

Yankees chief operating Lonn Trost said the sale began with full-season equivalents at just under 36,000 for the 52,000-capacity ballpark. He said January's announcement that full-season equivalents had reached 39,393 resulted from an internal team miscommunication and the higher figure referred to the final season at old Yankee Stadium, which held about 57,000 seats.

According to the Yankees' Web site, as of early evening tickets remained at $2,625 for the April 16 home opener against Cleveland, each with a $59.70 convenience charge.

Tickets are priced at $525, $625, $900, $1,050, $1,300 and $2,625 for the Legends seats ringing the infield, which include food and soft drinks. Other field level seats are $90, $125, $225, $250, $300 and $375.

Main level tickets go for $60, $80, $95 and $150, while the terrace level is $50, $75 and $85, grandstand $23 and $30, and bleachers $14.

Tickets for the Delta Sky 360 Suite sell for $375-800 and the Jim Beam Suite goes for $120-150 a seat.

UEHARA BACK IN FINE FORM (6:42 p.m. ET)
Koji Uehara showed no ill effects from a left hamstring strain that had kept him out of Grapefruit League play since March 9, and the new changeup he unveiled worked just fine.

Uehara struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings in the Orioles' 3-1 loss to the Nationals, using his first outing in more than two weeks to try out a new pitch he learned while sidelined.

"I'm the type of guy who wants to try new pitches on the mound in game situations, rather than do it in bullpen sessions," Uehara said through a translator.

Uehara, who threw 40 of his 57 pitches for strikes, allowed a run and three hits without issuing a walk. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz taught the right-hander the new pitch during his last bullpen session and the Orioles' first Japanese-born player quickly integrated it into his repertoire in the longest of his four spring outings.

"I hope he's happy with it. He threw it and got instant results," Kranitz said. "Anytime you're learning a new pitch or trying a new pitch, it's nice to get some instant success. ... It looked like it was a natural pitch for him."

SCHUMAKER GLAD TO SEE OQUENDO (6:38 p.m. ET)
No one is happier to have Jose Oquendo back from the World Baseball Classic than Cardinals outfielder-turned-second baseman Skip Schumaker.

The Cardinals are giving Schumaker a crash course in becoming an infielder, hoping his bat will offset any defensive liabilities. But the conversion hit a rough patch while Oquendo, the team's infield instructor and third base coach, was away managing Puerto Rico's WBC team.

Schumaker continued to work with bench coach Joe Pettini during Oquendo's absence, and he's getting better. After making four errors early in the spring, he hasn't made one in two weeks, but Schumaker is struggling with intricate details of the position.

"I'm not going to take anything away from Joe, because he really did help me a lot, but Oquendo has a special talent out there," Schumaker said.

If Schumaker isn't ready, manager Tony La Russa will likely turn to utility infielder Brendan Ryan at second base for Opening Day. But that wouldn't mean the experiment is over.

"We're going to make it work," Oquendo said. "It's going to be fine. We are going to be able to use him. That gives [La Russa] another option to get Schumaker in the games and get more at-bats."

METS SEND DOWN FREDDY GARCIA (3:51 p.m. ET)
New York Mets right-hander Freddy Garcia has an accepted an assignment to the team's minor league camp, assistant GM John Ricco said, according to the New York Daily News.

Garcia, attempting a comeback from shoulder surgery, was competing to be the Mets' fifth starter. It now appears that job will go to Livan Hernandez.

According to the report, Ricco indicated that Garcia will report to minor league camp for the rest of spring training, and then either remain for extended spring training or join the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, the Mets' top minor league club.

"He still has a ways to go, but I'm glad he's going to stay with us and try to work things out," Ricco said, according to the Daily News.

SOWERS AMONG INDIANS SENT DOWN (3:31 p.m. ET)
The Cleveland Indians have sent left-hander Jeremy Sowers, outfield prospects Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley, and four others to the minors.

Sowers, the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft, lost out in the battle for Cleveland's No. 5 rotation spot. Lefties Aaron Laffey and Scott Lewis are still in the running for the final rotation berth.

LaPorta and Brantley were acquired in July in the blockbuster trade that sent CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. They were reassigned Tuesday to minor league camp along with right-handers Kirk Saarloos and Greg Aquino and first baseman Michael Aubrey.

Sowers and catcher Wyatt Toregas were optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

ANGELS' ESCOBAR ON ROAD BACK? (10:02 a.m. ET)
Kelvim Escobar's fastball has recently been clocked in the high 90s, an indication that the Angels right-hander is ahead of schedule in recovering from shoulder problems that cost him all of 2008.

Escobar's fastball topped out at 96 mph in a Triple-A game against the Cubs, the Los Angeles Times reported. Facing seven batters, Escobar threw 18 of his 34 pitches for strikes, was clocked between 94 and 96 mph and gave up two hits, with one strikeout and one walk.

"Oh man, I feel good," Escobar said, according to the Times. "I knew I had good velocity, but I never thought I'd be throwing 96."

Escobar hopes he can gradually increase his workload in the weeks to come, according to the report. At that pace and barring any setbacks, the Angels could have him back in the starting rotation sometime in April. They'd be getting back a pitcher who went 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA in 2007.

"I've tested my arm many times this spring, and it feels fine," Escobar said, according to the Times. "Now, I'm going to focus on mechanics and making good pitches."

WILSON LEADING PIRATES BY EXAMPLE (9:47 a.m. ET)
Now that he leads his team in seniority with eight seasons in Pittsburgh, Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson has realized that it's time to be a leader. Wilson admits he wasn't comfortable in that role before, but he's embracing it as the Pirates try to produce a winning season after 16 straight years of sub-.500 records.

"I've always felt there's been someone in the clubhouse that has more time than myself, and it's not really my job," Wilson said. "This is the first year I've been the senior guy. It definitely puts a change in you and your heart and how you want to lead."

Wilson began the change with a bold step. At hitting coach Don Long's suggestion, he completely rebuilt his swing, in the hopes he could recover the power at the plate that abandoned him last season. He finished 2008 with one homer in 305 at-bats, down from the 12 he hit in 477 at-bats in '07.

Instead of a tuneup, Wilson went for an overhaul by adopting a swing that begins with his hands much lower than before -- despite the fact his stance had been hands-high since he was 6 years old. And Wilson stuck with it, despite an 0-for-23 slump that ended Saturday. He had two doubles against the Rays on Monday.

"Obviously, I didn't really like it that much at first -- you've got to change your whole swing," Wilson said. "But, watching films from past years of my bat path, [Long] showed me we could have a better pass at the ball if we brought the hands down."

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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PADRES PICK UP TWO RIGHTIES (8:11 p.m. ET)
The Padres added two right-handers, agreeing to a minor league contract with Shawn Hill and acquiring Luke Gregerson from St. Louis to complete the deal that sent shortstop Khalil Greene to the Cardinals.

Hill was released by Washington on Wednesday. He went 1-5 with a 5.83 ERA in 12 starts for the Nationals in 2008.

Gregerson was 7-6 with a 3.35 ERA and 10 saves for Double-A Springfield last season.

Also, the Padres optioned six players to Triple-A Portland on Monday, including right-hander Josh Geer, who had been competing for a spot in the rotation.

ASTROS GET PRESIDENTIAL VISIT (7:02 p.m. ET)
Houston entertained a special guest Monday when former President George H.W. Bush visited its spring facility. Bush signed autographs and chatted with players before their game.

Bush, a close friend of Astros owner Drayton McLane, attends many early season home games and holds an annual lunch for McLane and select players.

"We love it," Bush said. "My only problem is we leave in the spring. We leave in May when we go to Maine for five months. So I miss a lot of the regular season, but I'll be there right behind the plate."

His wife, Barbara, who recently underwent heart surgery, was unable to attend.

"She was going to come when we scheduled this several weeks ago before her surgery," McLane said. "It's a great asset to have him here."

PENNY MAKES BOSOX DEBUT (5:49 p.m. ET)
Brad Penny pitched three hitless innings in his spring training debut and the Red Sox hit four consecutive homers in a 7-6 win over the Tigers on Monday in front of a record crowd of 8,278 at City of Palms Park.

"It was nice. I felt good," said Penny, who is coming back from shoulder trouble that limited him to 19 outings and a 6.27 ERA for the Dodgers last year. "It has been awhile since I've gone out there and felt good. Last year I went out, and I was pitching but I didn't really feel like I had a lot behind it. Today was good. It was another step just allowing me to get my innings and my pitches. I don't know how many pitches I threw but I felt pretty good."

Penny, who was scratched from a scheduled start March 4 against Puerto Rico, walked one and struck out three.

Meanwhile, Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Chris Carter, and Ivan Ochoa hit consecutive homers to left field off Brandon Lyon in the sixth inning for Boston.

"[It's] still fun to watch," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of the home runs. "I know it won't help us during the season, but we'll take it."

GONZALEZ HURTS HAMMY (5:05 p.m. ET)
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is hurt again.

Gonzalez strained his right hamstring beating out an infield hit in the second inning of a 3-0 victory over the Blue Jays on Monday. He left the game to get treatment.

"When I saw the shortstop dive for the ball, I tried to go for some more," Gonzalez said. "That's when it grabbed me."

Gonzalez missed all of last season with a fracture in his left knee. He was cleared to start spring training with the team, but manager Dusty Baker has been careful not to let him do too much. Baker said the hamstring injury didn't appear to be serious.

"He tweaked it," Baker said. "There's no pull. We'll nurse him through it. We'll see Wednesday, but I doubt if he'll play Wednesday."

GLAUS OFF TRACK (5:25 p.m. ET)
It looks like Troy Glaus' return to the Cardinals will be delayed.

Glaus, who had aimed to be back by April following offseason shoulder surgery, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he has temporarily ceased baseball-related activities because his rehab has reached a plateau.

"I look at it like picking a scab," Glaus told the newspaper. "If you keep picking it, it will eventually get better. It's just going to take a lot longer. If you leave it alone, things tend to go quicker."

Glaus, who hasn't swung a bat or thrown in nearly a week, offered no timetable for his return.

"Who knows? In three or four days we may go out and throw and maybe it's fine and maybe not," Glaus told the newspaper. "I can't predict the future."

HERNANDEZ THE METS' FIVE GUY? (4:22 p.m. ET)
Livan Hernandez appears to be close to locking up the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation.

Hernandez pitched five solid innings in a minor league game Monday, allowing a run and five hits with seven strikeouts. His main competition, Freddy Garcia, meanwhile, was hit hard again.

"He has been very good," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said of Hernandez. "He's healthy. He knows how to pitch. I have no complaints about his stuff or his location."

Garcia, in camp on a minor league contract, gave up three runs on eight hits in four innings despite showing an increase in his velocity. The former All-Star, who missed most of the past two seasons with a shoulder injury that required surgery, might not have enough time to reach 100 percent because innings are tight at this point in spring training.

"We have to get together as a group and figure some things out," Manuel said. "We're running out of innings. We've got to make a decision here pretty soon, probably before the next turn."

HERNANDEZ SET FOR FIRST START (4:12 p.m. ET)
Right-hander Felix Hernandez will make his Cactus League debut Thursday against Kansas City. Hernandez hasn't pitched in a game since he helped Venezuela beat Puerto Rico 2-0 on March 16 to advance to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. The 22-year-old threw 86 pitches over 4 2/3 innings in the win, raising a few eyebrows in the Mariners' organization.

But Hernandez erased any concerns about his health Monday, throwing 51 pitches in a bullpen session without any difficulties.

"I felt good, no problems," a smiling Hernandez said following his workout. "I just have to do my thing. I'm ready to pitch."

With pitching coach Rick Adair and bench coach John Wetteland watching, Hernandez threw primarily fastballs during the workout and got some work pitching out of the stretch. He also got a quick refresher course on the Mariners' signals from Adair. Afterward, Hernandez said he still needs to build up his arm strength and work on his changeup.

"We have to pitch the way that we pitched [in the WBC]," Hernandez said. "That's all we have to do, our thing. We have to do the little things and play baseball. We've been working over there like we were here, we did the same things. It was a lot of fun."

RED SOX BELT FOUR STRAIGHT HOMERS (3:38 p.m. ET)
The Red Sox knocked four straight home runs off Detroit's Brandon Lyon in the sixth inning of their Grapefruit League game Monday in Fort Myers, Fla.

Mike Lowell, Jason Bay, Chris Carter and Ivan Ochoa all went deep to left field, according to MLB play-by-play.

Boston led 7-0 after six innings.

PHILLIES DEMOTE KENDRICK (12:02 p.m. ET)
The Phillies sent right-hander Kyle Kendrick to their minor league camp Monday, likely leaving the fifth starter race to be decided between left-hander J.A. Happ and right-hander Chan Ho Park.

In 50 career starts, the 24-year-old Kendrick has a 21-13 career record with a 4.78 ERA.

Besides Kendrick, the Phillies also sent catching prospect Lou Marson and second-base prospect Brad Harman to their minor league camp.

-- Jayson Stark, ESPN.com

LEE FEELS SLIGHTED OVER WBC DEMANDS (10:23 a.m. ET)
First baseman Derrek Lee said Major League Baseball officials tried to persuade him to play in the World Baseball Classic as a Team USA replacement for the injured Kevin Youkilis despite being slightly hobbled by an injury of his own.

"They started calling me," Lee said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "They needed a first baseman. But I couldn't go, not being 100 percent."

Lee missed five games with an injured right quadriceps before returning to spring training Sunday.

"I thought it was disrespectful, to be truthful," he said, according to the newspaper. "They knew I wasn't playing here [in camp]. How do they expect me to get off the trainer's table and start playing there?

"At the same time, you understand they're trying to win, and I was the guy that was on the [provisional] roster, so I guess they figured they'd give it a shot. If I felt better, it'd be a different story."

SANTANA: FALL WOULD WORK BETTER FOR WBC (10:12 a.m. ET)
Johan Santana, who missed the World Baseball Classic after offseason knee surgery, says the tournament would be better served coming in the fall, after the World Series.

"That will give you at least three weeks after the season is over to regroup and get everybody as a team, as a country, and put them all together," Santana said, according to The Star-Ledger of Newark. "Some guys will be tired, but at the same time, you will have a couple weeks to rest and to get together as a team, and I believe it will be better."

In 2006, Santana played for Venezuela, ousted on Saturday in the semifinals by Korea, which plays Japan in the final Monday night.

"It's tough because you cannot get ready in two weeks," he said. "It takes a little more time. And you can see that the teams that got together and they worked out, those are the teams that had a good chance to win."

MILLEDGE TO BAT LEADOFF (9:20 a.m. ET)
Center fielder Lastings Milledge will start the season batting leadoff after filling the role for the past week in spring training.

"I think Lastings is better suited leading off right now than Cristian Guzman, because Lastings runs more," Nationals manager Manny Acta said, according to MLB.com. "Seeing Lastings run in front of Guzman is better than seeing him run in front of [Ryan] Zimmerman. Guzman [a switch-hitter] hits from the left side. He would be better suited to shoot through the hole behind Milledge."

Last season, Milledge moved around the lineup consistently, first batting second, then sixth, third and fourth. He hit .268 with 14 homers, 61 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in his first year with the Nationals.

"This year, I can be more of myself," Milledge said, according to MLB.com. "I thought being thrown in the cleanup spot, the three-hole or put in the position to carry the team may have been a little bit too much for me. Now I can put all my tools together. I can use my bunting skills and steal bases, which I stole quite a few last year."

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SANTANA LOOKS SHARP (7:50 p.m. ET)
Since returning from elbow tightness, Johan Santana has been saying he's on track to make his Opening Day start for the New York Mets.

He backed that up on Sunday.

In his second Grapefruit League start this spring, Santana tossed five strong innings and the Mets scored nine runs in the seventh for a 12-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

The 30-year-old lefty was sharp against the Braves, striking out seven. He worked out of one small jam and yielded two hits.

Santana made one costly mistake, opening the fifth inning by throwing a 2-0 letter-high strike to Matt Diaz, who drove it to left for a solo homer.

LEE, COOK LOOK GOOD (7:14 p.m. ET)
Cliff Lee and Aaron Cook were masterful in a matchup of staff aces.

Lee finally resembled his AL Cy Young-winning self while Cook showed crafty command Sunday in the Colorado Rockies' 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Lee has struggled, allowing 14 earned runs in 6 2-3 innings coming in. But he found his rhythm against the Rockies, giving up two runs in five innings.

Cook had another stellar outing, allowing one run and five hits over five innings. His 1.89 ERA is among the lowest in the Cactus League.

RAYS' PRICE TOUGH AGAIN (6:51 p.m. ET)
The Tampa Bay Rays aren't budging on their stance that a decision on where top pitching prospect David Price begins the season will not necessarily be based on the left-hander's spring training performance.

The No. 1 pick in the 2007 amateur draft worked four scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory Sunday that snapped the New York Yankees' nine-game exhibition winning streak.

Ray Sadler homered and Yankees pitchers walked in three runs to help Tampa Bay beat a lineup missing most of New York's regulars.

ROYALS REASSIGN YABUTA (6:48 p.m. ET)
Pitcher Yasuhiko Yabuta was among four players the Kansas City Royals have assigned to their minor league camp.

The 32-year-old spent 12 years with the Chiba Lotte Mariners of Japan's Pacific League before signing a $6 million, two-year contract with the Royals before last season. He had an 8.53 ERA and .375 opponents' batting average in seven spring training appearances, allowing 12 hits, two homers and five walks in 6 1-3 innings.

Kansas City also assigned outfielder Chris Lubanski, catcher J.R. House and right-hander Oscar Villarreal to the minors. A first-round pick in the 2003 amateur draft, Lubanski hit .321 with two homers in 19 exhibition games. House was 1-for-14. Villarreal has not pitched because of a sore elbow.

PUDGE DEBUTS WITH ASTROS (6:09 p.m. ET)
Ivan Rodriguez looked right at home with the Houston Astros.

Making his spring training debut with his new team, Rodriguez stroked a single to center field in his first at-bat and helped Houston to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

The Astros plugged Rodriguez into the No. 2 spot in the lineup and the 14-time All-Star catcher finished 1-for-3 at the plate.

"I feel good out there," Rodriguez said. "I'm just trying to get used to my new teammates, and so far it was good. I was very pleased with the way I played today and the way our team played today."

After waiting all winter to land a job, Rodriguez finalized a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Astros on Friday. He can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

Houston starting pitcher Brian Moehler left the game as a precaution after he was hit on the right shoulder by Ryan Zimmerman's line drive. He doesn't expect to miss any starts.

Astros right fielder Hunter Pence made his first appearance since straining his left calf Tuesday. He went 0-for-2.

POSADA THROWING WELL (3:46 p.m. ET)
Yankees catcher Jorge Posada threw out three of four runners attempting to steal second base in a minor league game on Sunday, a step forward in his recovery from right shoulder surgery last July 30.

Posada had been unsuccessful in four previous throws -- three to second and one to third -- this spring training.

"Now you know you can trust your arm again," Posada said. "That's the only thing I wanted to do -- come out of spring training knowing you can throw somebody out and trust your arm again."

Three of the baserunners were inserted into the game by Pittsburgh's Triple-A Indianapolis team to give Posada the opportunity to make throws. After Gemmy Gonzalez stole second on the first attempt, which Posada said he rushed, the catcher then threw out Brian Friday, Shelby Ford and Gonzalez.

"I told myself, just slow everything down, and that's what I did," Posada said. "It worked out. We're going to keep building from today, but today is special. You throw a couple guys out and you feel good about that. It feels good that I'm back to 100 percent."

RED SOX DEMOTE TAZAWA, BOWDEN (3:29 p.m. ET)
Right-hander Junichi Tazawa was optioned to Double-A Portland on Sunday by the Boston Red Sox, who optioned Michael Bowden to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Boston also reassigned right-hander Marcus McBeth and left-hander Bill Traber to its minor league camp.

The 22-year-old Bowden allowed one run and three runs Saturday against the Marlins and was 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA. He is rated by Baseball America as the top pitching prospect in the Red Sox organization.

Tazawa, also 22, signed a $3.3 million, three-year contract with the Red Sox in December after pitching for four seasons in the in Japanese Industrial League. He allowed one earned run and five hits in nine innings over five spring-training appearances.

"Tazawa was lights out," Francona said. "He just handled everything. Nothing threw him off. He was comfortable on the mound. He's the quickest guy to the plate on our staff. ... He just needs experience."

PEREZ INJURY WORSE THAN THOUGHT (2:44 p.m. ET)
Tampa Bay's first serious loss had nothing to do with the WBC, and it may be worse than originally anticipated.

Fernando Perez underwent surgery in Phoenix on Saturday for a tear in his left wrist.

"It was pretty bad," Perez said Sunday morning. "I pretty much tore everything. So it looks like four to six months. In the meantime, I am in a lot of pain."

Perez tore the wrist diving for a fly ball. He was expected to open the season in center field to allow B.J. Upton a couple of weeks of further recovery time from left shoulder surgery. If Upton isn't ready, the Rays are expected to use Gabe Kapler and Ben Zobrist in center field.

-- Peter Gammons, ESPN

BACKE TO START SEASON ON DL (2:42 p.m. ET)
Brandon Backe won't be ready to start the season for the Astros. The team had the option of placing him on the disabled list or, if he was available to pitch by April 1, releasing him and saving a portion of his $1.55 million salary for 2009.

The team decided to put Backe, who is battling a strained side muscle after slipping off a mound, on the disabled list.

"As far as the decision is concerned, it's the route that I can go in order to stay here," Backe said, according to MLB.com. "But it doesn't diffuse the frustration that I have as far as the whole situation -- all this happened because of a slip on the mound. And that's what's so aggravating about this whole thing."

HILL LIKELY TO START ON DL (2:36 p.m. ET)
Orioles left-hander Rich Hill is doubtful to break camp with the team and is more likely to start the season on the disabled list because of elbow soreness.

Hill might be ready to pitch by the second week of April.

"We're too far away. I don't think he's got a chance of breaking with the club," pitching coach Rick Kranitz said, according to MLB.com. "That's not my say, but if you're not going to make the club because you're not ready, obviously there's only a couple of options. One of them is the disabled list, so I'd think that's kind of where he may go. He won't be ready for [the start of] the season."

RHP MINER RULED OUT AS NO. 5 (10:36 a.m. ET)
Manager Jim Leyland said right-hander Zach Miner has been ruled out for the Tigers' fifth spot in the rotation, leaving Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis and rookie Rick Porcello as candidates to fill the role.

"I think I took [the news] probably better than I would've imagined," said Miner, who has struggled this spring with a 9.69 ERA. "It's kind of like, 'All right, I'll get ready to do something else.' It shouldn't change how you go about your business."

The Tigers said Sunday they optioned the contract of right-handed pitcher Freddy Dolsi to their Triple A Toledo affiliate and assigned right-hander Casey Fien and left-hander Fu-Te Ni to minor league camp.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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MORROW MAY WORK OUT OF 'PEN (10:33 p.m. ET)
Seattle right-hander Brandon Morrow may have to pitch out of the bullpen to get his work in this spring.

Morrow, who is projected to be the Mariners' fifth starter, has been slowed by a stiff forearm in training camp and hasn't pitched in a Cactus League game since March 1. There are concerns the 24-year-old's arm won't be strong enough to handle the rigors of starting when the regular season begins April 6.

Manager Don Wakamatsu in the past has shot down talk of using Morrow in the bullpen, but now is keeping his options open.

Wakamatsu said Saturday that he thinks it will come down to the last week of camp, to see how much Morrow progresses, before he can decide whether he will be a starter.

GLAVINE NEARING ROTATION SPOT (7:56 p.m. ET)
Tom Glavine knows the end of his career is in sight and he wants to leave on his own terms.

The Atlanta Braves lefty pitched three pain-free innings against his former team in his first start this spring, allowing only two hits Saturday in a 12-1 win over the New York Mets.

Glavine had thrown a simulated game Monday and said he felt as though he'd be ready to join the rotation in about a month.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner has 305 wins, but he started a career-low 13 games last year, going 2-4 before his season was cut short due to elbow surgery. Glavine, who will turn 43 on Wednesday, contemplated retirement but said he wasn't quite finished.

YOUKILIS ON WAY BACK, DREW OUT (6:38 p.m. ET)
Kevin Youkilis could rejoin the Boston Red Sox lineup on Monday after giving his sprained left ankle more time to lead. J.D. Drew could need more time to get back on the field after bruising a hand when getting hit by a pitch.

Youkilis returned to the Red Sox on Wednesday from the World Baseball Classic with a mild sprain and mild Achilles tendinitis in his left foot. The first baseman had been wearing a hard plastic boot, then was examined Saturday by team physician Dr. Peter Asnis and took batting practice while wearing running shoes.

"He can maybe get a couple of at-bats on Monday," manager Terry Francona before his team's game against the Marlins in Jupiter. "We certainly don't want this to linger."

Drew did not participate in an on-field workout Saturday, a day after he was hit on the right hand by a Donnie Veal pitch. X-rays Friday were negative.

"Just kind of hang out until it feels well enough to start swinging and stuff," Drew said. "It feels pretty good, just stiff and sore from the bruise. But fortunately, it doesn't look like it's broke or anything. Hopefully, I don't have any issues when I start coming back to swing."

Francona said the team will proceed cautiously.

"It will be completely day to day on how he feels and how quickly the bruise doesn't feel bruised," the manager said.

UPTON HIT BY PITCH, BUT SHOULD BE OK (6:37 p.m. ET)
Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton was hit by a pitch on the left hand during a minor league game, however the Rays don't believe it's a serious injury.

X-rays were negative Saturday. The defending AL champions said the center fielder has a bone bruise and described his status as day to day. Upton has been limited throughout spring training while rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery.

The 24-year-old played most of last year with an injured left shoulder that affected his production at the plate. He had surgery shortly after the World Series and has yet to appear in a major league exhibition this spring training.

CHAVEZ GETS THE GO-AHEAD (4:25 p.m. ET)
Eric Chavez has been cleared to take batting practice for the first time in nearly two weeks.

Chavez, rehabbing from shoulder surgery, was tested Saturday using pulleys and swinging a bat without a ball. Chavez had not swung a bat since a setback on March. 8.

In other A's news, left-hander Dallas Braden was scratched from his scheduled start in Saturday's split-squad game against the Mariners at Peoria. Braden had a root canal operation on Friday and was not ready to pitch. He was rescheduled for Sunday against the White Sox.

LHP PARRISH TO UNDERGO SHOULDER SURGERY
(3:57 p.m. ET)
Left-hander John Parrish will return to Baltimore for exploratory arthroscopic procedure on his sore pitching shoulder.

Parrish, with the Orioles on a minor league contract, hasn't pitched during spring training because of the shoulder injury.

The 31-year-old was 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA last year for Toronto in six starts and seven relief appearances.

NATIONALS SIGN CATCHER BARD (3:22 p.m. ET)
The Washington Nationals signed catcher Josh Bard to a minor-league deal on Saturday, adding another veteran to compete for the backup job behind Jesus Flores.

Bard was released by the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, and will join the Nationals' big league camp. He would make $600,000 this year if he makes the major league team.

The 30-year-old catcher played 57 games for San Diego last season, hitting .202 with a home run and 16 RBIs. His best season came in 2006, when he hit .338 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 93 games for the Padres.

Wil Nieves caught 68 games as the Nationals' backup last season, and figured to have a roster spot locked up until Washington signed Bard. The two will now compete for the backup spot.

DREW, YOUKILIS TO RETURN SOON (2:17 p.m. ET)

Right fielder J.D. Drew was held out of the Boston Red Sox's lineup with an injured right hand Saturday, a day after getting hit by a pitch from Pirates left-hander Donnie Veal.

"It'll be day-to-day on how he feels, and how quickly the bruise doesn't feel bruised," manager Terry Francona said, according to MLB.com.

First baseman Kevin Youkilis, who returned this week to Fort Myers, Fla., from the World Baseball Classic with a mild sprained ankle and mild Achilles tendinitis in his left foot, took batting practice and fielded ground balls Saturday.

Youkilis could return to live games as soon as Monday, MLB.com reported.

"We'll see about that," Francona said. "Since he's in the boot and not feeling too good, we certainly don't want this to linger, so I'll talk to Youk and the medical people about that."

HUGHES AMONG 6 SENT TO MINOR LEAGUE CAMP (2:01 p.m. ET)

Phil Hughes was among six right-handed pitchers the New York Yankees sent down Saturday to their minor league spring training camp.

"I told him that he had a great camp and to keep working," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of Hughes, according to MLB.com. "We told him about all the things that we saw and what he needs to continue to work on.

"He's in a great frame of mind. He knows he did great here, but he also knows that it's not in his best interest to now be held back."

Hughes joined Anthony Claggett, and Steven Jackson, who were sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Humberto Sanchez was shipped to Double-A Trenton, while Sergio Mitre and Jason Johnson were also shipped to the Yankees' minor league camp.

"Because his pitch count continues to climb, there's no innings to provide here," Cashman said of Hughes.

GARDENHIRE BACKS LHP MIJARES (11:12 a.m. ET)

The Minnesota Twins are standing behind the left-handed Jose Mijares despite a shaky spring in which he's recorded a 11.37 ERA.

"What we need to do is get him straightened out, right here," manager Ron Gardenhire said, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I can always throw problems to somebody else, and not try to do it ourselves right here before we break camp.

"But he's a pretty good arm, and if we can figure this out, we'll be a better baseball team."

Gardenhire had been critical of Mijares, hinting of a connection to his performance and a lack of conditioning.

The rookie continued to struggle Friday, going to a 3-0 count on three Yankees hitters and allowing a home run to Todd Linden and singles to Doug Bernier and Juan Miranda.

"We're going to keep trying to get him going in the right direction," Gardenhire said, according to the newspaper. "He did some pretty good things last year, and even though I'm a little bit upset at him, we have to get this kid right. That's our job."

LF ANDERSON ON MEND (10:49 a.m. ET)

Left fielder Garret Anderson said he felt much improved Friday since pulling a calf muscle while warming up for a spring training game two weeks ago.

"[Trainers] just wanted me to get the muscle fatigued and see how it responded the next day," Anderson said, according to the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I didn't feel anything when I ran at all. I think we waited more than enough time to start running."

Anderson said he expected to return as early as next week.

LACKEY, ANGELS STILL IN TALKS (10:38 a.m. ET)

John Lackey's four-year, $27-million deal expires after this season, and according to the right-hander, the Angels' efforts to re-sign him to a new deal before the season starts continue to poke along -- without much steam.

"They're not trying very hard," Lackey said Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times. "It's kind of on them at this point. I love playing here and I'd like to stay, but I've put myself into a category that they need to get to."

One of the possible problems for the Angels?

Lackey may be using CC Sabathia's seven-year, $161-million contract he received from the New York Yankees this offseason as a measuring stick.

"Except for his time in the National League, look at the numbers," Lackey said, according to the newspaper. "That's how you do it; you throw out comparables."

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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GRIFFEY HITS FIRST HR OF SPRING (9:21 p.m. ET)
Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the first time since rejoining Seattle, but the Mariners lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 Friday.

The 39-year Griffey, who signed with Seattle on Feb. 18, was batting just .105 before his two-run shot off Brewers left-hander Lindsey Gulin in the bottom of the eighth pulled the Mariners to 6-5.

"It stirs a lot of feelings that he still has got some things," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "To me, the ability for him to pull the ball, lately his body's been getting out there [and] sometimes that makes everything come together."

ZITO SHARPENS HOOK (8:30 p.m. ET)
Barry Zito's curveball was more on target, and so was his pitching line.

Zito allowed six hits and three runs, one earned, in six innings, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 on Friday. He walked one and struck out three. He lowered his ERA to 5.49.

VLAD, BYRNES SHOW UP FOR SPRING (8:26 p.m. ET)
Vladimir Guerrero made his first start of spring training and impressed his manager in the Los Angeles Angels' 6-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes made his first appearance, too.

Guerrero, who had offseason knee surgery, played right field and was hitless in two at-bats. Manager Mike Scioscia said he hoped to have Guerrero in the lineup for a few more swings as the designated hitter Saturday against Milwaukee.

Byrnes' season was cut short in late June by a torn left hamstring. On Friday, He started in center field and went 0-for-3.

TEX HOMERS, HUGHES SHINES (7:11 p.m. ET)
Mark Teixeira hit his first spring training home run for the New York Yankees, a solo drive off Joe Nathan in a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

Teixeira, a notoriously slow starter, was 11-for-28 (.393) with two RBIs before his sixth-inning homer. He went 0-for-2 hitting right-handed against lefty Glen Perkins before switching to left-handed against Nathan.

Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes gave up one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out none.

He lowered his ERA to 2.19 but likely won't have a rotation spot because the Yankees signed free agents CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and intend to start Joba Chamberlain.

"He's pitched well all spring," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Obviously, there's a chance he won't be with us. But he's growing up as a pitcher. He's throwing the ball well. It's a numbers game for the starters. We moved Joba into the rotation. We feel good about our rotation. But he learned a lot from last year. He looks at this as a challenge."

STOMACH SIDELINES HARDEN (5:51 p.m. ET)
The Cubs scratched right-handed pitcher Rich Harden from Friday's scheduled start because of a stomach illness. In place of Harden, the Cubs called up right-hander Mitch Atkins from their minor league camp.

Harden, 27, has been brought along slowly this spring because of his history of shoulder problems. He has made two starts so far, going 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA.

STRAIN? WHAT STRAIN? (5:48 p.m. ET)
Dustin Pedroia had a hit and an RBI in his first game since straining an abdominal muscle 10 days ago while playing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. The Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-4.

Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew was taken for X-rays after being hit by a pitch from Donnie Veal on his right hand in the fifth inning. The Red Sox said he has a bruise and is day to day.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona skipped the game to attend his son Nick's graduation from Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Va. Bench coach Brad Mills ran the club.

DUCHSCHERER TRIES IT OUT (5:39 p.m. ET)
Oakland Athletics ace Justin Duchscherer tested his sore right elbow Friday, throwing 25 pitches in the bullpen.

"I'm excited, because it's the first time I've thrown with some velocity without pain," he said. "That's certainly a positive sign."

Duchscherer, who had not thrown in more than three weeks, threw all of his pitches at about 90 percent full velocity. He is not sure what the next step will be for him, but he is at least a week from getting into an exhibition game.

POSADA, PETTITTE IN MINOR LEAGUE MATCHUP (5:30 p.m. ET)
Jorge Posada made his first three throws to second base on stolen base attempts without any problems during a minor league intrasquad game.

"It was good," Posada said, rehabilitating from right shoulder surgery last July 30. "The last one was the best one I threw. Based on the way I felt coming up, staying back and throwing through the bag instead of throwing to the bag. It still had some carry when it got to second base."

Posada and left-hander Andy Pettitte played for Double-A Trenton against Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at the Yankees' minor league complex.

"He looked good," Pettitte said. "He said he felt good, that's the important thing. He looked normal to me. I know it's a battle for him getting off that surgery and coming back from it. I think this is another step."

Runners were successful on all three stolen base attempts, although on two of the chances runners got strong jumps on Pettitte. The other try resulted in a close play.

Pettitte threw 65 pitches. He will start another minor league game on the Yankees' off day next Wednesday.

NIESE OPTIONED, AMONG OTHER METS MOVES (2:49 p.m. ET)
In an indication the Mets are leaning to selecting Livan Hernandez as their fifth starter, New York optioned left-hander Jonathan Niese to the minor leagues Friday.

Niese, 22, went 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three spring training appearances. He was competing with Hernandez, Freddy Garcia and Tim Redding for the final spot in the Mets' starting rotation.

Redding (sore shoulder) appears headed to the disabled list, and Garcia has a 16.71 ERA. Hernandez has been the most consistent starter of the group, compiling a 3.07 ERA in 14 2/3 innings, and he appears likely to join Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Oliver Perez in the rotation.

New York also optioned catcher Robinson Cancel and right-handed pitcher Connor Robertson to minor league camp. Pitchers Kyle Snyder, Matt DeSalvo, Jon Switzer, Heriberto Rueles and Casey Fossum were reassigned to the minor league camp.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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BONDERMAN MAKES FIRST START (11:09 p.m. ET)
Jeremy Bonderman was more relieved to be back on the mound than pleased with his two scoreless innings. Bonderman made his first start since missing most of last season after having surgery to repair a circulatory condition in his shoulder and gave up two hits in the Tigers' 5-2 loss to the Braves.

Bonderman's return this spring was slowed by more soreness in the shoulder. At one point, he returned to Detroit to be examined by team physicians.

"It's been a long fight to get back," he said. "It was a relief to go out there and throw again with no pain. I'm over the hump."

The Tigers are hoping Bonderman can join a rotation that includes Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga and Edwin Jackson after going just 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA before being shut down in June. Bonderman won at least 11 games -- and pitched at least 160 innings -- in each of the previous four seasons. On Thursday, he walked two and did not strike out a batter.

"My mechanics are not where I'd like them to be. There is a timing issue, but I'll get stronger," Bonderman said. "I'll be sore tomorrow, but normal sore. I'll be fine to throw again in five days. And the more I pitch, the stronger the arm will get."

LOWRIE, RED SOX ROUGH UP ARROYO (10:44 p.m. ET)
Jed Lowrie had another big game at the plate, hitting a two-run homer off Bronson Arroyo to lead the Red Sox over the Reds 9-1.

Arroyo was hit hard by his former team in the third inning. Lowrie's second home run of the spring came with Rocco Baldelli on base. One out and one walk later, Chris Carter went deep.

Lowrie also doubled in the first, giving him a team-high 17 hits this spring.

MARSHALL TO START FOR CUBS (10:32 p.m. ET)
Manager Lou Piniella made it official and named left-hander Sean Marshall as the Cubs' No. 5 starter to begin the season.

The 26-year-old Marshall had the inside track on the job from the beginning of spring training ahead of his chief competitors, right-handers Aaron Heilman and Jeff Samardzija.

Piniella made his announcement after Heilman started and beat the Mariners 9-2 on Thursday.

Marshall is 2-0 with an 0.63 ERA this spring while Heilman is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA. Piniella said Heilman will go to the bullpen and pitch in the seventh and eighth innings.

TRIBE'S CARMONA HIT BY LINE DRIVE (8:41 p.m. ET)
Cleveland right-hander Fausto Carmona was hit on the right arm by a line drive while pitching in a minor league intrasquad game.

An Indians spokesman said Thursday X-rays were negative and that Carmona is "day to day with a right forearm contusion."

Carmona, a 19-game winner in 2007, missed two months last season with a strained left hip. He went only 8-7 with a 5.44 ERA, walking 70 and striking out 58 in 120 2-3 innings.

This spring, Carmona has a 2.45 ERA in four Cactus League games, including three starts. He has walked five and fanned four.

WELLS SET FOR FRIDAY RETURN (7:41 p.m. ET)
Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells is expected to return from a strained left hamstring and make his first spring training appearance this year on Friday as a designated hitter.

Wells last month re-injured the hamstring that kept him on the disabled list for a month late last season, when he hit .300 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs in 108 games.

Toronto manager Cito Gaston said Wells may play three innings in the field Saturday before getting a day off Sunday.

PELFREY NEARING TOP FORM (7:13 p.m. ET)
Mike Pelfrey looks ready for the regular season. The Houston Astros don't.

Pelfrey pitched six sharp innings and the New York Mets routed the floundering Astros 12-1 on Thursday, dropping Houston to 1-16-3 this spring.

Pelfrey, meanwhile, is getting stronger as the spring goes on. Making his second start since skipping a turn with a strained muscle in his lower left leg, the right-hander was perfect through the first four innings Thursday. He allowed one run and three hits in all, with one walk and three strikeouts.

KAZMIR SATISFIED TO PLAY (6:07 p.m. ET)
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- A shaky spring training outing didn't faze Scott Kazmir.

Although Tampa Bay's All-Star left-hander gave up a three-run homer to Ryan Ludwick and a solo shot to Rick Ankiel during Thursday's 9-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, he didn't view his latest start as a setback.

The 25-year-old said he was affected by a stomach virus and was satisfied to get in four innings, even though the Cardinals got to him for five runs and eight hits.

BLANTON HAS BEST SPRING START (5:49 p.m. ET)
Joe Blanton had his best start of spring training, allowing just one hit over six scoreless innings for the Phillies in a 5-1 win over the Marlins.

"He threw strikes," manager Charlie Manuel said. "[Pitching coach Rich] Dubee said he threw 19 first-pitch strikes out of 20. That's unreal. That's super."

Blanton, the Phillies' No. 4 starter, struck out three and didn't walk a batter, lowering his ERA to 2.30. But he still wasn't completely satisfied.

"My location for the most part I was a little better today than I have been with it earlier in the spring," the right-hander said. "I don't know if the slider is as good as it was the last game I felt like my changeup stepped up a little bit."

KAWAKAMI SCRATCHED FROM START (3:33 p.m. ET)
Atlanta Braves right-hander Kenshin Kawakami was scratched from his scheduled spring training start Thursday night because of shoulder fatigue.

Kawakami, the first Japanese player ever signed by the Braves, is projected as one of the starters in a revamped rotation that also includes newcomers Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez.

Vazquez will start in Kawakami's place against the Detroit Tigers.

Kawakami has started three games for the Braves, going 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 9 2/3 innings. He has allowed eight hits, walked four and struck out four.

ONE WORD: OUCH (1:09 p.m. ET)
Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval left Wednesday's game against the Cubs after he was struck in the mouth by Joey Gathright's bad-hop grounder in the fifth inning.

Sandoval wears braces, and both his top and bottom lip were pushed into the braces. "It implanted his lips to his braces. [Trainer] Dave Groeschner had to pull his lips off," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Sandoval, the Giants' top candidate to start at third base while getting a crash course there this season, also chipped a tooth and was sent to see a dentist. "That's a hard infield, like a lot of these are in the desert, and it just came up on him," Bochy said.

Sandoval, hitting .450, is likely to miss the next two games, Bochy said.

MILLEDGE, BELLIARD NOT SERIOUSLY HURT (11:29 a.m. ET)
The Washington Nationals got some good news on the injury front Wednesday, when they learned that injuries to Lastings Milledge and Ronnie Belliard aren't believed to be serious.

Milledge is day-to-day with a left knee contusion; Belliard has a left ankle sprain and was expected to be re-evaluated on Thursday. Manager Manny Acta said the team expects Belliard to miss two or three days.

Milledge got hurt when he made knee-to-knee contact with Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez as he tried to leg out an infield single. Belliard was injured while trying to beat out a double play.

GET RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM (11:18 a.m. ET)
Jose Reyes is back in the New York Mets' leadoff spot, and for now the shortstop is there to stay.

Second baseman Luis Castillo, who had been batting leadoff, hit second again behind Reyes in the Mets' 7-4 loss Thursday to the Atlanta Braves. Manager Jerry Manuel had been batting Castillo first and Reyes third.

"[The experiment] is not over, but I think with Jose not being as active as I would have liked him to be [in the WBC], I've got to slowly get him back going," Manuel said. "To get him back going, I have to put him where he's comfortable. And I think that [leadoff spot] is where he's comfortable."

KURODA TO START DODGERS OPENER (11:06 a.m. ET)
Hiroki Kuroda has been named the Opening Day starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers' first regular-season game, April 6 at San Diego, manager Joe Torre announced.

Torre also announced that Randy Wolf, Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw will follow Kuroda in the rotation. He did not name a fifth starter.

Kuroda went 9-10 with a 3.73 ERA in 31 starts last season. He had 116 strikeouts, walked 42 and allowed 181 hits in 183 1/3 innings.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

WHITE SOX ON LOOKOUT FOR LEADOFF (9:20 p.m. ET)
The Chicago White Sox are still looking for their leadoff batter.

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Manager Ozzie Guillen said he and his staff spent "hours" discussing the subject before DeWayne Wise went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in that spot for the White Sox in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

"I wish I had the answer right now," Guillen said. "You'll see a lot of teams struggle looking for leadoff guys. Not many people in baseball have the ideal leadoff guy, the igniter, the guy who can make things happen."

Other than Wise, the White Sox are considering Jerry Owens for the top spot in the lineup. Both players are also competing for the starting center field job. Another possibility is second baseman Chris Gets, who went 2-for-3 to raise his average to .364.

Wise, who got off to a great start but has faded a bit lately, said he is trying to be more selective at the plate so he can draw walks. But he says "it's kind of tough to do that," because he's not yet an established player who can afford to pass up good pitches.

"It's tough because I'm not like a Jermaine Dye or a Jim Thome Those guys know they're going to be here," Wise said. "I know I got to go up there and hit. At the same time, I want to be able to get on base and draw walks."

HERNANDEZ TAKING CHARGE (8:52 p.m. ET)
Livan Hernandez strengthened his grip on the No. 5 spot in the New York Mets' rotation with five strong innings in a 7-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Hernandez scattered five hits and allowed just one run, striking out three. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 3.07 in 14 2/3 innings this spring.

"[Hernandez] was pretty good," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "He has a good presence about him on the mound, and in the dugout he brings a different energy. He's put himself in a good position."

Relying primarily on his sinker, Hernandez came nowhere close to his pregame pitch count of 85 before handing a 2-1 lead to Freddy Garcia in the sixth.

Hernandez credited former Dodgers and Giants pitching coach Ron Perranoski with teaching him the sinker while he was with San Francisco in 2003.

Garcia (0-3) struggled again, allowing five runs and seven hits in two innings, raising his spring ERA to 16.71.

"[Garcia's] in a tough spot," Manuel said. "But the good thing is he's healthy and you're happy to see that."

Hernandez's consistency this spring seems to be distancing him from the competition in the race for the final spot in the rotation.

Tim Redding, the only candidate in camp on a major league contract, will start the season on the disabled list, while rookie Jonathan Niese, who is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA, and Garcia have yet to pitch to the level of Hernandez.

DAVIS CRUISES IN RETURN (8:23 p.m. ET)
Arizona's Doug Davis cruised in his return to the mound after missing a start with tightness in his biceps.

He held the Brewers without a hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings in Arizona's 4-1 loss to Milwaukee. The left-hander struck out two, walked one and hit a batter.

"I felt really good out there, sometimes too good, overthrowing a little bit," Davis said.

Davis said he did not completely test his biceps muscle because "I wasn't real confident in snapping off the curveball as of right now." He said he's sure that his confidence in the arm will improve in the coming starts.

"All in all it was a great day," Davis said.

Arizona manager Bob Melvin said OF Eric Byrnes will make his spring debut Friday in center field against the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe.

Byrnes, recovering from hamstring injuries, played left field and went 1-for-4 with a homer in a minor league game on Tuesday.

GALLARDO GOING STRONG (8:19 p.m. ET)
The loss of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets to free agency might be a little less painful for Milwaukee with the way Yovani Gallardo is pitching this spring.

The 23-year-old right-hander held Arizona hitless through five innings in the Brewers' 4-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Arizona managed just one hit the entire game.

Gallardo, who missed virtually all of last season with knee injuries, faced only 16 batters, one more than the minimum. He struck out three and walked three. Two of the base runners were erased, one on a rundown and the other on a double play.

"It felt great. I think all my pitches were working for me," Gallardo said. "I was able to mix and match every pitch and get ahead of the hitters."

Gallardo has held opponents without a run in four of his five starts this spring. His second shutout performance gives him a string of nine consecutive scoreless innings.

GRIFFEY TO START IN LEFT (7:30 p.m. ET)
Ken Griffey Jr. will make his first start of the spring in left field when the Seattle Mariners play the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Griffey has been relegated to DH for Seattle while recovering from offseason knee surgery. The 39-year-old has said he hopes to play in the outfield regularly once the season begins.

Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu says the plan is to play Griffey three consecutive games, first in left then DH then back in left field.

Griffey did not play in the Mariners' road game against Kansas City on Wednesday and is batting only .143 this spring. He has yet to hit his first home run since re-signing with his first team just before the start of camp and hasn't driven in a run.

HAMMEL MAKING STRIDES (7:02 p.m. ET)
Jason Hammel is making strides toward earning a spot in Tampa Bay's rotation, and injured outfielders B.J. Upton and Matt Joyce are closer to getting back on the field for the Rays.

Hammel settled down after a shaky start to pitch four innings in the Rays' 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Upton and Joyce saw limited action in a Class A game.

Hammel, competing with Jeff Niemann and David Price for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, allowed three runs and five hits, including Edwin Encarnacion's second-inning homer, and sacrifice flies to Joey Votto and Ryan Hanigan.

"I liked how he came back the last two innings," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He went from 50 pitches for the first two to 19 over the last two innings. I liked the way he settled in and pitched well after that."

Upton, recovering from offseason surgery on his left (nonthrowing) shoulder, played three innings on defense but did not bat.

Maddon said the 24-year-old center fielder, who hit seven homers to tie an AL record for one postseason, will bat and play in the field during another minor league game Thursday.

There's no timetable for him to play in a major league exhibition.

Joyce, sidelined most of spring training by right leg tendinitis, went 1-for-2 with a walk and played three innings in the field.

"It felt really good," said Joyce, obtained this winter in a trade that sent right-hander Edwin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers.

"Just getting your legs back into it. That's the biggest thing, running on and off the field," Joyce said. "You'll be surprised at how quick it fades. How your body has to adjust. [Upton] said the same thing."

RAMIREZ RESTS; PROCTOR OUT (6:37 p.m. ET)
All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez was scratched from the Florida Marlins' lineup for a second straight game because of discomfort in his right shoulder.

Ramirez hasn't played since Saturday, when he served as the designated hitter. The Marlins were hoping that he'd be ready after skipping Monday's game and the team's off day Tuesday.

Ramirez told manager Fredi Gonzalez he couldn't play about 10 minutes before the team bus left the Marlins' complex in Jupiter for the drive to Viera to play the Nationals.

Also, the Marlins are preparing to start the season without right-hander Scott Proctor, who hasn't pitched since Feb. 27 because of discomfort from scar tissue in his right elbow.

BARD'S SECOND STINT WITH RED SOX OVER (5:55 p.m. ET)
The Boston Red Sox have released Josh Bard, 2½ months after signing the backup catcher.

Bard will receive $262,295 in termination pay rather than a $1.6 million salary this year. After Wednesday, players with nonguaranteed contracts put on waivers receive 45 days' termination pay rather than 30.

General manager Theo Epstein says the move was made as a testament to the performance of the team's other young catchers, especially George Kottaras, who spent last season at Triple-A Pawtucket and was a September call-up.

Kottaras would move into the backup role behind Jason Varitek. His, primary responsibility will be to catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Bard played seven games with the Red Sox in 2006. He was signed to catch Wakefield's knuckleball, but struggled and was traded to San Diego along with reliever Cla Meredith for catcher Doug Mirabelli.

Bard batted .202 with a homer and 16 RBIs in 178 at-bats for the Padres last season. His career batting average is .265, with 28 home runs and 168 RBIs in 431 games with the Indians, Red Sox and Padres.

He was hitting .429 in six major league appearances during spring training.

EATON TRYING TO MAKE HIS CASE (5:54 p.m. ET)
Adam Eaton's bid to join the Orioles' rotation ended better than it started in St. Louis' 3-2 win over the Baltimore. Eaton issued a four-pitch walk to Skip Schumaker to start the first inning then gave up a single to Chris Duncan.

Schumaker scored on Ty Wigginton's errant throw attempting to double-up Albert Pujols. Pujols scored on Ryan Ludwick's single.

"It took me a little bit to get comfortable again," Eaton said. "After that I settled down and made some good pitches, but luck wasn't on my side and a couple balls found a hole."

Eaton, who was released by Philadelphia earlier this spring, allowed only one baserunner after the first inning and faced the minimum nine batters in his final three innings.

"I thought he was better," said Baltimore manager Dave Trembley, comparing Wednesday's start to Eaton's first outing. "His changeup was better. His fastball for the most part, with the exception of the first hitter, was down."

CARPENTER HAS SOLID OUTING (5:51 p.m. ET)
With catcher Yadier Molina back, Chris Carpenter had his best outing of the spring.

Molina returned from the World Baseball Classic and caught six scoreless innings from Carpenter in the St. Louis Cardinals' 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

"Carp makes it look easy," said Molina, who went 1-for-3. "Anytime you catch a pitcher like Carp, it's easy."

Making his fourth start, Carpenter, who missed most of the last two seasons with arm and shoulder trouble, turned in the Cardinals' longest outing so far. He has thrown 14 scoreless innings this spring.

"As the game went on I started feeling better, which is nice," said Carpenter, who retired the final eight batters he faced. "I was able to get my delivery together and start making quality pitches."

REHABBING BILLINGSLEY GOES FIVE INNINGS (5:48 p.m. ET)
While the rest of his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates took a day off, pitcher Chad Billingsley worked five innings in a minor league intrasquad game.

Billingsley, coming back from a broken left ankle, allowed five hits and three earned runs, including a two-run homer to Austin Gallagher, who batted .293 with 33 doubles and 55 RBIs in 78 games last year with Class A Inland Empire.

Billingsley threw 76 pitches and struck out five, allowing one walk and hitting a batter.

He broke his ankle last winter when he slipped on ice outside his home in Pennsylvania. The fracture required surgery.

When Billingsley pitched Wednesday, Hall of Famer Bob Gibson was among those watching the game. His son Chris is a first baseman who signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers last November.

TRIBE'S MILLER FACING SURGERY (5:19 p.m. ET)
Reliever Adam Miller is facing career-threatening reconstructive finger surgery if he is unable to find a new way to pitch effectively.

Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Miller, who underwent surgery on his right middle finger last year, will spend the next seven to 10 days throwing to see if he can command his pitches without pain. If Miller can't, he will have a procedure where a tendon will be taken from his wrist to reattach the tendon in his finger.

Soloff said the operation would cost Miller this season and perhaps end his career. Soloff said a buildup of scar tissue could make it impossible to pitch.

The hard-throwing 24-year-old Miller came to training camp with a chance to win a job in Cleveland's bullpen.

BIG UNIT HAS BICEPS SORENESS (4:08 p.m. ET)
Giants left-hander Randy Johnson is scheduled to start against Seattle on Monday after skipping a turn because of soreness in his biceps.

Manager Bruce Bochy says Johnson's arm is healthy. He was held out of his start Wednesday against the Cubs for precautionary reasons. Johnson is scheduled to pitch a bullpen session Saturday.

The 45-year-old Johnson has a 1.08 ERA this spring, his first with the Giants. He has given up a run in 8 1/3 innings and has 12 strikeouts.

ROYALS PLACE GOBBLE ON WAIVERS (3:55 p.m. ET)
Left-handed reliever Jimmy Gobble was placed on waivers by the Royals and is expected to be released Friday.

The 27-year-old pitcher has been in the organization since 1999 and was 22-23 with a 5.23 ERA in 235 career games. He debuted with the major league club in 2003.

Gobble was 0-2 with an 8.81 ERA and one save in 39 relief appearances last season. A stiff lower back forced him onto the disabled list from July to September, but he didn't allow a run in his final eight appearances after he returned.

By placing him on waivers Wednesday, Gobble will get $221,311 in termination pay instead of $1.35 million salary.

The Royals also signed right-hander Anthony Lerew to a minor league contract and invited him to big league camp.

LANNAN GETS OPENING DAY NOD (1:52 p.m. ET)
John Lannan, a rookie in 2008 who started last season in the minors, will be the Nationals' Opening Day starter against the Marlins.

Lannan, 24, went 9-15 with a 3.91 ERA last season. In six innings over two starts this spring, he has not allowed a run.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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LEYLAND VOICES WBC CONCERN (8:37 p.m. ET)
Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he is following the World Baseball Classic and wants to get his players back as soon as possible.

His entire starting outfield along with starting pitcher Armando Galarraga are playing in the WBC and he said he's disappointed that Carlos Guillen has been playing mostly designated hitter for Venezuela. Guillen is moving from first base to the outfield for the Tigers this season and Leyland hoped that would be Guillen's spot during the WBC.

"I don't want to stick my nose into it but I can't do anything about it," Leyland said.

LACKEY NOT SWEATING CONTRACT TALKS (8:10 p.m. ET)
John Lackey isn't letting his contract situation become a distraction this spring. The Angels' right-hander is keeping his focus on the field.

Lackey, who is set to become a free agent after this season, handled San Diego without much trouble, giving up one run on three hits over five innings in a 12-7 win over the Padres.

"I'm supposed to hear something back this week," Lackey said. "We'll see. I'm not worrying about it too much. I'm just trying to handle my business and get ready."

The Angels' likely Opening Day starter threw just 50 pitches in the game before going to the bullpen to get in some extra work.

More outings like the one he had Tuesday could drive up the asking price for the big right-hander, who has 91 career wins and the third-lowest ERA in the American League since 2005. Lackey was dominant on the mound and added a pair of sacrifice bunts at the plate. Both times the runner he moved over scored.

"Showing my skills for National League teams, too," Lackey joked.

THOME PLAYS IN SIMULATED GAME (7:35 p.m. ET)
Jim Thome, who has experienced tightness in his lower back, played in a simulated game.

"I probably got six or seven at-bats and worked on some things, did our work, and everything was great," he said.

Thome expects to start Wednesday against the Angels.

A'S RELEASE CATCHER BOWEN (4:03 p.m. ET)
The Oakland Athletics released catcher Rob Bowen on Tuesday, likely opening the door for former first-round pick Landon Powell to back up Kurt Suzuki.

"We've got some internal options we feel good about, and it's also early enough in the spring for Rob to find a better opportunity," A's general manager Billy Beane said.

Bowen, 28, hit .176 in 37 games with the A's in 2008. This spring he was hitting .200 in six games. He heard reports last week that he had been placed on waivers, so he was not surprised to get the news that he'd been released.

"You always prepare for anything in this game," he said. "This isn't the first time I've switched teams and it probably won't be the last."

Powell, who will turn 27 on Thursday, was the A's top pick in the 2004 draft. His career has been slowed by knee problems, but he has been healthy this spring. He hit .230 with 15 homers in 88 games at Triple-A Sacramento last year.

ASTROS HAPPY TO ADD PUDGE (3:27 p.m. ET)
Houston Astros players are raving about the pending addition of catcher Ivan Rodriguez as the team closes in on a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the 13-time Gold Glove winner.

"He's a veteran guy that knows how to play the game," Carlos Lee said. "He's one of the greatest catchers to ever play the game."

The Astros needed a veteran catcher to replace Brad Ausmus, who became a free agent and signed with the Dodgers. Last year, the Astros used Ausmus, Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles behind the plate.

"I don't have any feelings about it," said Quintero, who had been the projected starter. "I'm going to keep working hard. I can't do anything about it. I'm happy for him to be here and help the team."

As a child, Astros right fielder Hunter Pence watched Rodriguez play for the Rangers. "He was one of my favorites growing up in Arlington," Pence said. "So I'm very excited about it. I watched a lot of Rangers games and I loved Pudge. He was an incredible catcher."

SANTANA THROWS TO METS MINOR LEAGUERS (3:05 p.m. ET)
Rather than have Johan Santana ride a bus two hours to pitch against division rival Atlanta, the New York Mets had their ace pitch against their minor leaguers for four innings Tuesday in his second outing since knee surgery.

Santana allowed two runs and six hits in four innings, striking out five and walking none. He gave up three doubles and threw 40 of 56 pitches for strikes.

"I felt pretty good, because I was able to throw a lot of strikes," Santana said. "Even though they were swinging to a lot of them, they were aggressive, and that's what you want to see, what kind of approaches they take, and then try to slow the game down."

The two-time Cy Young Award winner had hoped to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. After being slowed by elbow tightness, he made his first spring training outing last Thursday against Florida, giving up three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings.

"I was able to locate all my pitches, and right at the end, we tried to work on the fastball inside, trying to establish that pitch right there, and I was able to do that, so I felt pretty good," Santana said of Tuesday's outing. "That tells you right there the command is there. I'm very pleased with the results."

A NEW START FOR TYLER JOHNSON? (1:34 p.m. ET)
Left-handed reliever Tyler Johnson helped the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title in his rookie season. But last winter he found himself auditioning for scouts in a high school gym and wondering if he could take up golf or music as a new career, since his baseball career appeared to be over at age 27.

"It definitely humbles you a little bit," he said of the experience, according to The Seattle Times. "At one point, I thought I might be done playing baseball."

Now, Johnson, who missed part of 2007 and all of 2008 with shoulder problems, is in the hunt to join the Seattle Mariners as a situational lefty. Injuries to Cesar Jimenez and Ryan Feierabend and the likelihood that Ryan Rowland-Smith will begin the season as a starter have opened the door for Johnson, who threw his third bullpen session on Monday. He's pegged to throw a simulated game later this week before joining the roster for Cactus League appearances, according to the report.

"If I'm healthy, I think I'm going to be there," he said, according to the Times. "I think it's just a matter of my health. I don't really look at that. I've been in eight big league spring trainings. It's not like it's my first, second or even third one. I know what to expect, and I know if I'm healthy, I'm going to be in the big leagues. That I'm pretty sure of."

BARTON AMONG CARDINALS CUTS (1:19 p.m. ET)
Outfielder Brian Barton, a 2008 Rule 5 draft pick who spent all of last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, was among eight players the team cut from the spring training roster on Monday.

Barton and pitchers Mitchell Boggs, Matt Scherer and Charlie Manning were optioned to the team's minor league camp, while pitchers Clayton Mortensen, Jess Todd and Adam Ottavino and first baseman Allen Craig were reassigned to the minors.

Barton hit .268 in 153 trips to the plate last season, but got off to a slow start in spring training. He had just one hit and seven strikeouts in his 16 most recent at-bats.

BYRNES STILL RECOVERING IN MINORS (9:33 a.m.)
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes is still playing in minor league games as he recovers from a torn hamstring and won't play with the D-backs until Friday at the earliest, manager Bob Melvin said, according to the Arizona Republic.

"I think the best thing is probably to listen to the trainers at this point," Byrnes said, according to the report.

Byrnes said he was clocked at 4.18 seconds running to first base in a minor league game on Sunday, the newspaper reported.

"It says a lot," he said, according to the report. "Look, I'm not one to get fixated on times. But to know that I consistently ran 4.2s when I was 100 percent healthy a couple of years ago when I stole 50 bases and I'm running 4.18s down there in my first game back shows me that it's there."

BIG UNIT A LITTLE SORE (8:50 a.m.)
A little arm soreness was enough for the San Francisco Giants to have Randy Johnson skip his next scheduled spring training start on Wednesday.

Manager Bruce Bochy says the Big Unit has "a tiny touch of biceps soreness," but nothing that will require an MRI or a visit with Dr. James Andrews.

"It's nothing that drastic. It's just a little cranky, that's all, normal spring training stuff," Bochy said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "We've got time to get him ready and get his pitch count up. We're not concerned right now. We expect him to be fine."

Johnson last pitched on Friday, going four innings in a minor league game. Tim Lincecum will start in his place on Wednesday against the Cubs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SCHMIDT OUT OF RUNNING ... FOR NOW (9:18 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said that Jason Schmidt, who made his second start of the spring, is no longer a candidate to begin the season in the rotation because there is not enough time for his rehab from shoulder surgery.

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Schmidt threw 42 pitches in two scoreless innings against the A's. With three weeks to go before Opening Day, Torre said there's not enough time to get Schmidt ready to take the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

"This is all about some time down the road, getting him back, but at this point I have no idea when that is," Torre said. "After what he's been through with the surgeries and the whole thing, I think we can look at it as continuing rehabbing."

Schmidt, 36, has not pitched in the majors since June 16, 2007. The three-time All-Star has undergone two shoulder operations since then.

"I'm just trying to get out on the mound," he said. "I'm not looking at opening day or five days from that. I just want to eventually pitch in a game in Los Angeles and pitch in the big leagues. I'm not setting a timetable."

BEDARD BACK ON MOUND (9:10 p.m. ET)
Erik Bedard had a simple goal for his first outing since March 5.

"I was just trying to feel healthy," he said.

Bedard pitched one inning in the Mariners' 4-3 victory over the Dodgers on Monday, allowing one run and two hits. The left-hander, who had been sidelined with sore buttocks, also issued a walk.

"I was just throwing pitches, trying to get people out as I do usually," he said. "My [butt] feels good and that's that. Just warming up I knew it was fine."

LINCECUM SCRATCHED WITH FLU (9:08 p.m. ET)
Giants ace Tim Lincecum was scratched from Monday's scheduled start against the Angels because of the flu.

Lincecum said he's improving and manager Bruce Bochy said the right-hander is now set to start Wednesday against the Cubs. Lincecum will take Randy Johnson's place -- the Big Unit will skip a turn because of biceps soreness.

"Just precautionary," Bochy said. "It's just a little cranky. That's all normal spring training stuff."

Lincecum is scheduled to start the regular-season opener April 7 against Milwaukee.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has not allowed an earned run while retiring 20 of the 22 batters he has faced in three exhibition starts. He has given up one hit and one walk.

LOOPER FINE AFTER LINER TO HEAD (7:49 p.m. ET)
One injury nearly led to another for right-hander Braden Looper.

Looper, who has been sidelined with a strained oblique muscle, took a glancing line drive off the back of his head while throwing the first of two innings in a simulated game. Looper said it didn't faze him and he finished the outing.

"I felt great today physically, even if I wasn't as sharp as you would like," Looper said.

SAMARDZIJA BACK TO BULLPEN? (7:47 p.m. ET)
Jeff Samardzija had one more start to prove he deserved serious consideration for the Cubs' starting rotation. He likely made manager Lou Piniella's decision easy.

Bill Hall hit a three-run homer off Samardzija, who gave up five runs in the first inning after getting the first two outs, and the Brewers beat Chicago 9-6 on Monday.

Piniella plans to begin revealing the Cubs' rotation later this week after giving everyone one more start and Samardzija most likely will be in the bullpen because of the emergence of left-hander Sean Marshall as the leading candidate to be the fifth starter.

Samardzija went 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 26 relief appearances last season for the Cubs and said he'd be happy in any role.

"I don't know what's going to be next for me, but obviously I'll be ready to pitch. I've said before I don't mind pitching whenever or wherever. I'll just be ready to go whenever they call my name," Samardzija said. "I really don't have a preference, like I said with my pitches and everything and where they're at, I'm pretty happy with them, so I feel like I'll leave it up to the upstairs to make a decision what they feel is best for the team."

PIMENTEL OUT AT LEAST 6 WEEKS (7:31 p.m. ET)
Royals right-hander Julio Pimentel will be out at least six weeks with an elbow injury and possibly the season, if surgery is required.

The Royals say Pimentel has a nondisplaced bone spur fracture in his pitching elbow. The bone spur is close to the ulnar collateral ligament.

Manager Trey Hillman says the 23-year-old is waiting for a second opinion on whether he needs surgery.

Pimentel is one of Kansas City's top pitching prospects. He suffered the injury while throwing a pitch Friday against Hank Blalock of the Rangers.

Pimentel was acquired in a 2006 trade with the Dodgers.

CARDS NO CLOSER TO NAMING CLOSER (6:48 p.m. ET)
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa could go with Chris Perez, Jason Motte or Ryan Franklin, who had 17 saves in 25 chances last year when he took over from Jason Isringhausen, as closer. Or he could go with a mix of all three.

"I think we're all getting a little tired of people asking who's the closer," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. "We've been pretty up front that we're going to use these three weeks."

Franklin believes La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan know whom they want. The manager, however, isn't tipping his hand.

"You just see how they pitch and the impression they give you, and if one guy emerges he becomes the closer," La Russa said. "If he doesn't, they all kind of share it."

CANO COULD PLAY FIELD FRIDAY (6:42 p.m. ET)
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano had an MRI Monday that found bursitis in his right shoulder and he could play the field on Friday.

Cano will pinch hit or be a designated hitter until then. He had a pinch-hit single during the sixth inning of New York's 12-0 win over the Phillies on Monday.

"It feels better," Cano said. "I'll be ready in a few days."

Cano has experienced tightness behind his right shoulder all spring training. He resumed playing catch before Monday's game.

Cano didn't tell the Yankees about his shoulder problem before joining the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. The Yankees told Cano, who is taking anti-inflammatory medication and performing strength-building exercises, that the next time he has any problem to let the training staff know.

LEYLAND NOT SURE WHEN ZUMAYA WILL RETURN (5:53 p.m. ET)
Tigers manager Jim Leyland isn't sure whether injury-plagued reliever Joel Zumaya will be ready for Opening Day.

"I have no predictions," Leyland said Monday.

A day earlier, Leyland said Zumaya probably would not be ready for the start of the regular season on April 6.

Zumaya is a talented but injury-prone 24-year-old power-pitching right-hander who has missed much of the past two seasons. He was scratched from an intrasquad game Saturday because of a neck cramp.

By Monday, Zumaya apparently had improved.

"He feels better," Leyland said. "I'll leave it at that."

BYRNES' RETURN DELAYED (5:39 p.m. ET)
Eric Byrnes' return to the Diamondbacks' lineup has been delayed a few days.

Arizona manager Bob Melvin had thought about putting Byrnes in the lineup when the Diamondbacks play Oakland in Phoenix on Tuesday. Instead, the outfielder will play in a minor league game.

"He wanted to play, I wanted him to play, but it's probably the smart thing to do to make sure we cover all the bases before he gets out on the field," Melvin said before Arizona played Colorado on Monday.

The Diamondbacks have Thursday off, and Melvin said Byrnes, recovering from hamstring injuries that sidelined him for all but 52 games last season, could play Friday when they face the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe.

"It makes sense," Byrnes said. "I'm just anxious to be out there, but I think the best thing is to totally listen to the trainers at this point. It's been a nine-month process, so I put my trust in them and I have no problem with it."

ALVAREZ AMONG BUCS CUTS (5:28 p.m. ET)
Third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the Pirates' top draft pick last year, was among eight players sent back to their minor league camp.

Alvarez and right-hander Ron Uviedo were optioned to Class A Lynchburg. Right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Right-hander Jeff Sues and catcher Steve Lerud were optioned to Double-A Altoona.

Right-handers Juan Mateo and Daniel McCutchen and infielder Shelby Ford were reassigned to minor league camp as the Pirates trimmed the number of players in their major league camp to 45.

Alvarez signed a major league contract with Pittsburgh last fall, so he already was on the 40-man roster when he reported to his first spring training camp.

"It was a lot of fun," said the 22-year-old Alvarez, who was 8-for-18 (.444) with one homer, five RBIs and three strikeouts this spring. "I didn't really know what to expect. I took it all in, and it was great. It was a great thrill and I learned a lot."

FRANCO TAKES ON NEW ROLE (5:26 p.m. ET)
Julio Franco is joining the Mets -- as a minor league manager, not as a player.

The 50-year-old, who had 2,586 hits during 23 major league seasons from 1982 to 2007, will manage the rookie-level Gulf Coast Mets. In addition, New York hired Mike DiFelice as manager of the Kingsport Mets.

Franco, who played for the Mets from 2006 to '07, will be joined at Gulf Coast by pitching coach Frank Fultz, hitting coach Tom McCraw and additional instructor Luis Rojas.

DiFelice spent 13 seasons in the major leagues and was with the Mets from 2005 to '07 before spending last year with Tampa Bay. He'll be assisted by hitting coach Ryan Ellis, pitching coach Jonathan Hurst and bench coach Juan Lopez.

In addition, New York agreed to a minor league contract with 34-year-old infielder Junior Spivey, who hasn't appeared in the major leagues since 2005. He played in two games with Boston during spring training last year, then was released.

RAMIREZ HELD OUT OF LINEUP (4:29 p.m. ET)
All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez was held out of the Florida Marlins' lineup Monday against Washington because of discomfort in his right shoulder.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Ramirez should be all right after a couple of days. Florida is off Tuesday.

Ramirez has played two games since returning Friday from the World Baseball Classic after the Dominican Republic was eliminated. He went 1-for-2 with a double while playing shortstop on Friday and then 0-for-3 as the designated hitter on Saturday.

Right fielder Cody Ross was scratched because of tightness in his left calf.

Emilio Bonifacio was at shortstop and Alejandro De Aza played right field against the Nationals.

ROCKIES DEMOTE HIRSH (4:06 p.m. ET)
The Colorado Rockies have optioned pitcher Jason Hirsh and seven other players to the minor leagues.

The right-handed Hirsh, who was vying for the fifth spot in the rotation, is 0-1 with a 12.19 ERA in 10 1/3 innings this spring.

Colorado also optioned pitchers Samuel Deduno, Ryan Mattheus, Shane Lindsay and Steven Register to the minors, along with infielders Hector Gomez, Chris Nelson and Eric Young Jr.

The team reassigned pitchers Cedrick Bowers, Brandon Hynick and Matt Daley, catcher Michael McKenry and outfielder Matt Miller to minor league camp.

With the moves, the Rockies now have 43 players on the major league spring training roster.

PEDROIA IDLE UNTIL THURSDAY (3:08 p.m. ET)
Manager Terry Francona said Dustin Pedroia won't be allowed to participate in any baseball activities until Thursday, when he's expected to take batting practice after suffering his abdominal strain during the World Baseball Classic.

Asked if he'd heaved a sigh of relief that Pedroia's injury isn't more serious, Francona replied: "Yes, because originally, we thought it was an oblique [strain]. And we've all been around long enough to know they linger. You hope they're day to day, and they end up being week to week, if not month to month. So yeah, we were relieved."

In other Red Sox injury news, Francona said John Smoltz will throw his first bullpen session of the spring next Wednesday, March 25. Smoltz, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, has been doing his throwing off flat ground, but Francona said he's now making his last 15 pitches from the mound -- with the catcher standing, not squatting -- just to give him a feel for throwing off a mound again.

Francona also said Brad Penny would pitch "a couple of innings" in a minor league spring training game Wednesday.

-- Jayson Stark, ESPN.com

WILLIAMS' COMEBACK STALLS (2:07 p.m. ET)
Jerome Williams, trying to return to the majors after his once-promising career was stalled by weight problems, was among eight players the Athletics sent to the minor leagues.

The 27-year-old Williams gave up four runs in nine innings in four games. He won 17 games for the Giants before his 23rd birthday, but he had been bouncing between organizations for four years, pitching in an independent league last season.

"Jerome has come a long way from where he was a year ago," manager Bob Geren said. "He put himself in the mix. Right now the innings just aren't there for him."

The A's also sent down right-hander Kevin Cameron, who had a 2.79 ERA in 48 games for the Padres in 2007. A non-roster invitee, Cameron allowed two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings this spring training

Oakland optioned right-hander Ryan Webb and infielders Jeff Baisley and Eric Patterson to Triple-A Sacramento. The A's reassigned right-hander James Simmons and infielders Joe Dillon and Sean Doolittle.

BRAVES' ROSTER DOWN TO 44 (1:11 p.m. ET)
The Atlanta Braves have optioned right-handers Steve Marek, James Parr, Todd Redmond and Luis Valdez to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Left-handers Francisley Bueno and Mariano Gomez and catchers Phillip Britton and Matt Kennelly were reassigned to the Braves' minor league camp.

Atlanta has 44 players left in its major league camp.

NATIONALS TRIM ROSTER TO 47 (11:09 a.m. ET)
The Washington Nationals have optioned right-hander Tyler Clippard and outfielders Justin Maxwell to Triple-A Syracuse.

The moves trimmed the team's spring roster to 47 players.

Right-hander Marco Estrada and outfielder Leonard Davis also were optioned to Syracuse, while right-hander Luis Atilano and infielder Ian Desmond were optioned to Double-A Harrisburg.

The Nationals also reassigned right-hander Josh Towers, catcher Gustavo Molina, infielders Freddie Bynum and Joel Guzman, and outfielder Jorge Padilla to minor league camp.

BUILT-UP LUDWICK SCUFFLING AT PLATE (9:25 a.m. ET)
All-Star outfielder Ryan Ludwick added extra muscle during the offseason in a quest for even bigger numbers than his 37 homers and 113 RBIs last season.

A 5-for-31 start in spring training wasn't what he had in mind, and he's convinced his upgraded physique isn't the root of his slump.

"I don't think so," Ludwick said Sunday in Jupiter, Fla. "I'm not too worried about it. I've got three weeks and I'm doing the things I need to do to get ready, and just taking it day by day."

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa thinks it's just a matter of the 30-year-old Ludwick settling into his swing. He noted Ludwick reported in great condition and weight trained as a baseball player, not as a bodybuilder.

"I think he lifted smart," the manager said. "He's not bound up at all. He's working every at-bat, tweaking it, searching for that good feeling."

HART EMPHASIZES CONDITIONING AFTER SLIDE (9:18 a.m. ET)
Right fielder Corey Hart sizzled last summer before slumping in September.

This season, Hart hopes he can contribute at the plate when it counts.

"My body was just drained and tired," Hart said Sunday in Phoenix. "I wasn't used to being out there that much. It's the most I'd played, 100 more at-bats than I'd ever had. I was worn down. Physically, I didn't prepare for that kind of season."

Hart hit .289 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs to make his first All-Star appearance after winning the fan vote for the final outfielder spot. He began to struggle soon after, culminating with a miserable final month of the season. In September, he hit .173 with no homers and 10 RBIs and struck out 21 times compared to just three walks.

"I was pressing," Hart said. "I was trying to find it and of course, I was a starter and didn't want to come out of the lineup. It's one of those things, you work in the offseason physically and mentally. I just didn't quite get it done last year."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

MILLER TO HAVE FINGER EXAMINED (10:12 p.m. ET)
Cleveland Indians prospect Adam Miller will have his right middle finger examined by a doctor on Monday and manager Eric Wedge said the right-hander won't break camp with the team.

It's another setback for Miller, whose development has been delayed by one injury after another. Despite an overpowering fastball when healthy, Cleveland's first-round draft pick in 2003 has never pitched in the majors.

"We're going to get a good look at him Monday and Tuesday just to find out if and how serious it is," Wedge said. "It is kind of a funky thing. We are not sure what it is right now. It is disappointing to everybody, especially Adam."

Miller was supposed to play catch Sunday, but rested instead.

"There's no pain, no swelling, but I can't bend the tip of the finger and it just doesn't feel normal," said Miller, who came to spring training seeking a spot in the bullpen.

Miller had missed 10 days of throwing with soreness in the finger before playing catch from 75 feet on Friday.

"Everything was OK then, until I felt just a little something on my last toss," he said. "So I'm going to see a physician in Scottsdale and then my surgeon from Baltimore will be here Tuesday."

Dr. Tom Graham operated on Miller's finger on May 27 and was scheduled to come out to Indians camp anyway.

"I had no problems during my throwing program in the fall and pitching winter ball," Miller said. "It feels like the same thing I had in 2007, but not to the same extent."

BEDARD READY TO START AGAIN (9:27 p.m. ET)
Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard will start Monday's split-squad game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and is expected to pitch one inning.

Bedard missed his last start and postponed two bullpen sessions because of sore buttocks. But he threw 30 pitches during a bullpen session Saturday and was cleared to resume pitching in games.

"I think Bedard's fine," manager Don Wakamatsu said Sunday. "If everything goes well and there's no other setbacks, I think he'll be fine."

Brandon Morrow, another ailing Seattle pitcher, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday. The right-hander has been out with forearm stiffness.

If all goes well, Seattle will increase Morrow's workload before getting him back into a game. The Mariners are counting on the 24-year-old to be a member of their rotation, but so far he has appeared in only one Cactus League game this spring, on March 1.

"If we can stretch him out a little bit and there's no problems with his forearm, we'll see how fast we can take him along," Wakamatsu said.

CONTRERAS SOLID IN DEBUT (8:13 p.m. ET)
It's been a busy week for Jose Contreras.

The Chicago White Sox right-hander left Arizona for Florida where he was formally sworn in as a United States citizen on Wednesday then returned to the desert to pitch two shutout innings against Seattle in his Cactus League debut.

White Sox beat the Mariners 15-5 on Sunday.

It's the first time Contreras has pitched in a game since rupturing his Achilles tendon last August.

"I feel good and strong," Contreras said, speaking without an interpreter. "It wasn't a surprise for me. I've been working hard for the last seven months, you know? I feel good."

Contreras struck out Seattle leadoff hitter Chris Woodward and got Ken Griffey Jr. looking. After giving up a leadoff single to Adrian Beltre in the second, Contreras fanned Russell Branyan and Mike Morse before getting Prentice Redman to ground out to end the inning.

"He should be fresh," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said of Contreras. "He was throwing 93, 94, caught a couple corners. His arm is in as great shape as it can be."

The White Sox have kept Contreras on a controlled schedule this spring in hopes of avoiding a setback. He threw 50 pitches in batting practice on Thursday then started against Seattle.

Asked if he would be ready by April 10 when his spot in the rotation comes up, Contreras smiled.

"I'm ready," he said. "I'm ready right now."

SANCHEZ GETS SHOT WITH PADRES (4:18 p.m. ET)
Duaner Sanchez, released by the Mets earlier this week, agreed to a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.

The right-hander will get a chance to make the team's bullpen out of spring training and could fill a specialty setup spot in front of closer Heath Bell.

Sanchez separated a shoulder in a taxi accident on July 30, 2006, and had season-ending surgery. He missed the 2007 season following a hairline fracture in the front of his shoulder during spring training and returned to the majors last April 15.

PAGAN REMAINS POSITIVE (4:07 p.m. ET)
New York Mets outfielder Angel Pagan is planning to return to the field quickly after another disappointing injury.

Pagan had arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. The Mets estimate Pagan will be out for six to eight weeks but he feels he is on a faster track than that.

"I have pretty good motion in it right now," said Pagan, turning his bandaged arm inward and outward in the clubhouse Sunday morning.

Pagan had an MRI in New York last Monday, met with team doctors Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, then returned to New York for the operation. He hit .467 with two RBIs in five exhibition games.

The injury stalled the progress of the outfielder, who Mets manager Jerry Manuel said needed at-bats to showcase himself this spring.

DECISION TIME FOR MAROTH (4:06 p.m. ET)
Left-hander Mike Maroth has a decision to make after the Blue Jays designated him to their minor league camp Sunday.

Maroth, 31, is trying to return from a left shoulder injury and was hoping to snag one of the vacancies in Toronto's starting rotation.

He either can accept the minor league assignment or request his release so he can attempt to hook up with another team. He said he will talk to his agent before making a decision on his future.

"You're always in the mix until you get sent down or shipped out," Maroth said, according to MLB.com. "You don't think otherwise, but obviously you have to perform. This game is about performance. It's not about what you've done in your past or anything like that.

"You have to get outs, and obviously, I'm a much better pitcher than what I've shown in spring so far. I think that just comes with getting that repetition and getting back on the mound and getting some innings at this point."

ZUMAYA DOUBTFUL FOR OPENER (4:00 p.m. ET)
As Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya undergoes treatment for a muscle cramp, the likelihood of him being available for Opening Day is diminishing.

"I doubt very much whether he's going to be ready for Opening Day unless something happens in a hurry," manager Jim Leyland said, according to MLB.com. "That's just the way it is."

Zumaya hasn't pitched in a game since March 2. The Tigers' medical staff has him on a medication pack that it hopes will resolve the cramp that Zumaya is experiencing between his neck and right shoulder.

Leyland said Zumaya's history of injuries make it unlikely the hard-throwing Zumaya will be ready in time to start the season.

"I only say that because he really hasn't pitched for two years," Leyland said, according to MLB.com. "If he had been pitching the last two years and then had a little setback like this, he might be able to get himself ready. But when a guy hasn't pitched for that long, let me put it this way: It's in the gray area now, unless something happens."

BRAVES RELEASE STOCKMAN (2:25 p.m. ET)
The Atlanta Braves have released right-handed reliever Phil Stockman.

The 6-foot-8 Aussie put up some impressive numbers during his tenure with the Braves, but wildness and persistent injuries plagued his development. Atlanta placed the 29-year-old Stockman on unconditional release waivers Sunday after he pitched only one inning in spring training.

Stockman got in 10 games for the Braves over the last three years. He had an ERA of 0.79 in 11 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and eight walks while striking out 13.

Last year at Triple-A Richmond, Stockman pitched in 19 games. He went 1-1 with two saves and a 2.10 ERA in 30 innings.

INDIANS CUT THREE PITCHERS (11:33 a.m. ET)
The Cleveland Indians have cut veteran right-hander Tomo Ohka and two other pitchers.

Ohka was in camp as a non-roster invitee. He and left-hander Ryan Edell were sent to Cleveland's minor league training camp on Sunday. Left-hander Rich Rundles was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

The Indians now have 59 players in camp.

Ohka, who will turn 33 on Wednesday, made three spring training appearances. He allowed 14 hits and 10 runs, six of them earned, in 3 2/3 innings.

He was signed to a minor league deal in December after spending 2008 at Triple-A Charlotte in the Chicago White Sox' system, going 5-11 with a 4.18 ERA.

UTLEY PLAYS FOUR INNINGS (11:23 a.m. ET)
Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, who is recovering from offseason hip surgery, played in a minor league intrasquad game at Philadelphia's training complex Saturday.

He went 2-for-4 and struck out twice.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he couldn't predict when Utley would play in a major league game until he sees how he feels after playing on Saturday.

"It's great to have him back on the field," Amaro said. He knows Utley wants to get back quickly, but also doesn't want to rush back and cause more problems.

"Chase is smart enough to understand that this is something he has to be careful with," Amaro said.

TEJADA WILLING TO SWITCH POSITIONS (11:17 a.m. ET)
In the past, Miguel Tejada has been hesistant to play any position but shortstop. But after playing third base for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, his stance has changed.

"Wherever they want me, I'll be there 100 percent," Tejada said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "If they want me to move to third, I'll do it. I just want to be here. I'm a free agent after this year, and the No. 1 thing for me is that I want to be here."

However, manager Cecil Cooper says he hasn't thought about switching Tejada to third base. The team's plan currently is to platoon Aaron Boone and Geoff Blum at the position.

"[Tejada is] my shortstop," Cooper said, according to the Chronicle. "Who am I going put at shortstop if I don't put him there? Who's my shortstop if he doesn't play? You can't even find one any better. He's one of the tops in the game. "

ORIOLES SHUT DOWN RIGHTY JOHNSON (10:54 a.m. ET)
The Orioles have shut down right-hander Jim Johnson for at least a week while they try to determine the cause of discomfort in his right shoulder.

Johnson noticed it during the last couple of pitches of his last outing on Wednesday, and again when he was lifting weights after that game. He says the pain is identical to the impingement syndrome in his right shoulder that put him on the disabled list for the final five weeks of last season.

He will be limited to conditioning work for the next week or so, but believes he can be ready for opening day April 6.

Johnson was one of Baltimore's most reliable bullpen arms last season, going 2-4 with a 2.23 ERA in 54 games without allowing a home run as the team's primary setup man.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

A'S GIAMBI BELTS FIRST SPRING HR (9:21 p.m. ET)
Orlando Cabrera made his Athletics debut and Jason Giambi hit his first homer of the spring in an 8-3 victory over a San Francisco Giants split squad Saturday, but the club also had to shut down All-Star pitcher Justin Duchscherer because of a sore elbow.

Giambi belted a two-run homer against minor leaguer Joe Martinez in the first inning. Giambi started the spring 1-for-17, but has four hits in six at-bats, with two walks, in his past three games.

"The last few games I'm hitting the ball good, really starting to get locked in, just in time because we only have 21 games to go," he said. "I'm right where I want to be this time in the spring."

Cabrera had a single in three at-bats as the designated hitter, his first game with his new team. He is scheduled to make his debut at shortstop on Sunday, when Nomar Garciaparra will make his A's debut at third base. Garciaparra and Cabrera did not sign until March 6.

BURNETT SPARKLES IN SECOND SPRING START (6:45 p.m. ET)
A.J. Burnett threw four perfect innings in the New York Yankees' 3-1 split-squad win over the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Burnett struck out three during his 40-pitch outing. He has allowed one hit over six shutout innings in two spring training starts.

Burnett went 18-10 with Toronto last year. The Yankees signed him to an $82.5 million, five-year free-agent contract during the offseason.

TIGERS' ROBERTSON STRONG; BONDERMAN THROWS (5:43 p.m. ET)
Nate Robertson pitched three scoreless innings in the Tigers' 10-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing one hit while fanning one. With three weeks left to win the final spot in the Tigers' starting rotation, Robertson was pleased.

"Its my job to lose," Robertson said. "I am not putting pressure on myself. I am fighting for a job. No pressure."

Robertson and Dontrelle Willis are candidates for the final spot behind Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, Armando Galarraga and Jeremy Bonderman. Zach Miner and Rick Porcello also are in the mix.

There could be two openings because Bonderman has a sore shoulder, but he threw 30 pitches Saturday in a game against Tigers minor leaguers and reported no pain. Bonderman will start Thursday against Atlanta.

TOP PROSPECT SHARP IN BID FOR ROTATION SPOT (4:15 p.m. ET)

Carlos Carrasco turned in a solid outing on Saturday, giving the top pitching prospect a boost in the race for the Phillies' open rotation spot.

His performance during the Phillies' 5-2 victory in Kissimmee, Fla., over Houston was bolstered by another sluggish offensive effort by the Astros.

Carrasco, who is competing with Kyle Kendrick, Chan Ho Park and J.A. Happ for the final spot in the rotation, allowed one run and four hits in three innings against a Houston split squad.

He faced a lineup that included Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee and was supposed to be bolstered by the return of Miguel Tejada from the World Baseball Classic.

Instead, Tejada and Lee went a combined 0-for-6 while Berkman fared a bit better with two hits and an RBI.

ORIOLES REASSIGN 7 TO MINOR LEAGUE CAMP (1:41 p.m. ET)

Prized Orioles pitching prospects Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta are among the seven non-roster players Baltimore has reassigned to its minor league camp.

Joining the right-handers at the minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla., on Saturday are right-handers Fredy Deza and Ryan Keefer; catchers Jose Reyes and Adam Donachie; and infielder Craig Brazell.

BACKE SHELVED WITH STRAINED MUSCLE IN RIBS (11:15 a.m. ET)

Right-hander Brandon Backe has been sidelined for at least 10 more days with a rib injury, according to the Houston Chronicle.

According to the newspaper, a strained intercostal muscle in Backe's side is threatening his chances for a spot in the Astros' rotation for the start of the regular season.

"Not real promising, when you think about it," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said in Kissimmee, Fla., according to the paper.

Backe, 30, was injured Sunday in a spring training game against the Pirates.

"It's already been four or five days now and who knows how much longer," Backe said. "Worried? Not really worried. I'm more aggravated than anything."

WEEKS PLAYS THROUGH IT -- WITH HOMER (10:59 a.m. ET)

Second baseman Rickie Weeks shrugged off his well-documented struggles with his first homer of the spring Friday during a 5-1 win over the Royals in Phoenix.

Weeks said afterward he's looking past the harsh treatment from fans he's received in Milwaukee.

"I really don't care about it. I don't look into too much of it," Weeks said. "I couldn't care less about what people think or say. I'm going to do what I've got to do to help this team win, plain and simple."

Injuries haven't helped Weeks, the second pick of the 2003 draft who has 72 errors in 445 games, including 15 last year, and is a career .245 hitter. He hurt his wrist because of his hard bat waggle and his knee in the past three seasons. He struck out 116 times in 2007 and 115 times last year.

"Playing through injuries? I've been doing that pretty much my whole career to this point," Weeks said.

-- Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

HAMPTON TOSSES FOUR SCORELESS INNINGS (10:44 p.m. ET)

Houston's Mike Hampton had his best outing of the spring on Friday in Kissimmee, Fla.

He looked good and, perhaps more importantly, he felt good.

Hampton allowed three hits in four scoreless innings while striking out four as the Astros and Washington Nationals played to a 2-2 tie in 10 innings.

The injury-plagued lefty missed all of 2006 and 2007 and was limited to just 13 games last season because of various injuries, but is hoping to revive his career in his return to Houston, where he won 22 games in 1999.

The 36-year-old had allowed six runs combined in his two previous outings.

BEDARD CANCELS ANOTHER BULLPEN SESSION (10:36 p.m. ET)

Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard has canceled a bullpen session for the second consecutive day in Peoria, Ariz., raising concerns that the Mariners' ace may be hurt more than he's letting on.

Bedard was scratched from his scheduled start against Kansas City on Wednesday because of sore buttocks and missed his bullpen session on Thursday because of the same thing. He canceled again Friday.

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu has downplayed the severity of Bedard's injury and says Seattle is taking a cautious approach with its top pitcher.

NATIONALS ADD TAVAREZ (8:30 p.m. ET)
Right-hander Julian Tavarez has agreed to a non-guaranteed, minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.

He's the second player the Nationals have brought aboard this week in Viera, Fla., joining Kip Wells as possible help for the bullpen.

The 35-year-old Tavarez is 85-75 with 22 saves and a 4.45 ERA over 16 seasons with 10 clubs in the majors, working as both a starter and reliever.

He went 1-5 with a 5.10 ERA in 52 appearances for Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta in 2008.

MORALES SHOWING SOME POP (7:33 p.m. ET)
Kendry Morales, who'll replace Mark Teixeira as Angels first baseman this season, is hitting .355 in 31 Cactus League at-bats. Morales hit a tape measure grand slam off Chad Gaudin for his first home run of the spring in Los Angeles' 8-2 victory over the Cubs on Friday.

While Morales has only 12 homers in his first 377 major league at-bats, he's coming off an impressive performance in winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

Manager Mike Scioscia will probably hit Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter in the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 spots unless Howie Kendricks works his way into the second spot and bumps everybody back a notch. That means Morales will bat either fifth or sixth in the order.

"He has big power,'' Scioscia said of Morales. "Whether that translates into 15, 20 or 30 home runs is impossible to say. What we need for Kendry is that production. He's going to be up there with a lot of guys on base.''

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

A'S OPTION HERRERA TO TRIPLE-A (3:39 p.m. ET)
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Outfielder Javier Herrera has been optioned from the Oakland Athletics to Triple-A Sacramento.

The 23-year-old went 3-for-6 with a double, two walks and scored twice in seven spring training games for the Athletics.

In 61 games at Double-A Midland a year ago, Herrera hit .267 with nine homers and 36 RBIs. Herrera is a .284 career hitter in five minor league seasons with 48 homers, 208 RBIs and 72 stolen bases in 90 attempts.

BREWERS EXPECT CAMERON BACK SOON (2:40 p.m. ET)
Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron could be swinging a bat as soon as Saturday and is expected to return in a few days from a strained rib cage muscle.

Manager Ken Macha said Friday that Cameron's injury to an intercostal muscle on his left side needs a few days of rest.

Cameron was upbeat in the clubhouse, but wasn't sure when he'd be back in the field after getting hurt during a drill.

"I feel good, but my ribs feel bad," he said.

Cameron, a three-time Gold Glove winner, hit .243 with 25 homers and 70 RBIs last year in his first season in Milwaukee.

ANOTHER VOTE FOR PEDRO (10:49 a.m. ET)
Jose Reyes, back in Mets camp after the World Baseball Classic, was singing the praises of Dominican Republic teammate Pedro Martinez and says the former Mets right-hander would welcome a return to Queens.

"He said he just wants to go somewhere he'd like to be comfortable," Reyes said, according to Newsday. "He'd like to pitch here. To be honest with you guys, he said he'd like to come back here, but I don't know what's the deal here."

The Mets have already said they're not interested in re-signing Martinez. But if they asked Reyes for his opinion, they'd get a ringing endorsement.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable," Reyes said of Martinez, according to Newsday. "He's fantastic. He's loose, comfortable on the mound. He threw a lot of strikes, bro. He throws hard, too. He looked great."

"Last year he had some tightness in his shoulder, but now he looks relaxed," Reyes added, according to the report. "He's ready. Whoever signs him, he's going to do good."

MARINERS SEND DOWN TOP DRAFT PICK FIELDS (10:19 a.m. ET)
Mariners right-hander Josh Fields, the team's first-round draft pick in 2008, was one of five players the team reassigned to its minor league camp Thursday.

Fields has not pitched in a Cactus League game since arriving in camp and has been relegated to side work, though manager Don Wakamatsu hasn't ruled out bringing him back up at some point.

"I was extremely proud of the way he handled himself and impressed," Wakamatsu said.

The move to send Fields down was expected and the 22-year-old didn't seem concerned about not pitching in a game while with the big league club.

The Mariners also sent right-hander Tracy Thorpe, catcher Israel Nunez and infielders Callix Crabbe and Oswaldo Navarro to the minor league camp. The moves leave Seattle with 58 players on its spring training roster.

-- Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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MARINERS SIGN RHP CORDERO (10:41 p.m. ET)
The closer-needy Seattle Mariners have signed veteran right-hander Chad Cordero to a minor league contact and invited him to the final weeks of their spring training camp.

The Mariners announced on Thursday evening they expect Cordero to report to camp Friday. He turns 27 next week.

Cordero has 128 career saves since 2003. He has been out since last May with a shoulder injury sustained while he was with the Washington Nationals.

He eventually had surgery in July and will continue rehabilitating in his first weeks with the Mariners.

Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said the team will be cautious and patient with Cordero's recovery. He added the Mariners are optimistic Cordero can help them this season.

HAREN FACES FORMER TEAM (8:03 p.m. ET)
Dan Haren was excited to face his former team, and it showed. Haren walked three in three innings of the Diamondbacks' 6-1 loss to the Athletics.

Haren, who has allowed six runs in nine innings so far this spring, said he was a little wild because of the extra adrenaline of facing his former team. But he only gave up one run and one hit and struck out four.

"I felt really good," Haren said. "My arm felt really live. The first couple starts of the spring you are really working the kinks out, but today my arm felt great."

PERCIVAL SEES FIRST SPRING ACTION (6:02 p.m. ET)
Troy Percival pitched a hitless inning in his first action of spring training in the Rays' 3-2 win over the Phillies. The 39-year-old closer is coming back from an injury-plagued season. He made three trips to the disabled list because of hamstring and knee injuries and missed most of September and the postseason because of a lower back injury that required surgery in November.

"It was a step," Percival said. "I was actually forcing myself to mentally throttle back and throw my pitches, but I'd let a couple go, so the next time I'll do a little bit more. I'm gonna take it a step at a time."

Percival, who is eighth in saves with 352, said he will be ready by Opening Day.

"There's not a doubt in my mind," he said.

Rays manager Joe Maddon is beginning to believe that.

"He looks very good to me," Maddon said. "I don't see any kind of hesitation or restriction. So, I think he's in really good shape."

CARPENTER COMEBACK ON TRACK (5:28 p.m. ET)
Chris Carpenter's comeback remains solidly on track after four more scoreless innings. The Cardinals' oft-injured ace shrugged off a triple by Josh Reddick on his second pitch of the game then allowed just one more hit in his third spring start as St. Louis beat the Red Sox 4-2.

"It was another step forward," said Carpenter, who threw 46 pitches. "I definitely felt like I was locating better with my fastball and I felt like I was in a little better control of my body."

The 33-year-old Carpenter doubled the inning total from each of his first two spring starts. He hasn't allowed a run in eight innings, giving up only four hits.

"Results-wise, it's obviously been pretty good," Carpenter said. "I'm getting back into the game situations and trying to execute pitches, so it's gone the way I would have hoped so far."

Carpenter has missed virtually all the past two seasons, pitching only 15 1/3 innings last year coming off reconstructive elbow surgery. He underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September and had another procedure in November to transpose a nerve in his elbow.

JACK OF ALL TRADES INJURED (4:55 p.m. ET)
Utility player Alfredo Amezaga has a sprained left knee that's expected to sideline him four to six weeks.

Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez didn't rule out Amezaga returning before the season opener April 6, but baseball operations president Larry Beinfest wasn't optimistic.

"It's doubtful right now," Beinfest said. "He's very valuable to this team. It's tough."

Amezaga, who signed a $1.3 million contract in January, is the team's most versatile player. He played 79 games in center field last year, 19 at shortstop, 15 at third base and 10 at second.

RED SOX PROSPECT INJURES ANKLE (2:35 p.m. ET)
Boston Red Sox prospect Jonathan Van Every left an exhibition game against St. Louis after spraining his right ankle running the bases in the fifth inning.

Van Every, the ninth-place hitter, pulled up while going from first to third on Josh Reddick's two-out single Thursday.

The 29-year-old was batting .150 (3-for-20) after going hitless in two at-bats. He made his major league debut last year and had three stints with Boston, hitting .235 in 17 at-bats with five RBIs in 11 games.

BIG Z TO START OPENER FOR CUBS (2:00 p.m. ET)
Carlos Zambrano has been picked to make his fifth straight Opening Day start for the Chicago Cubs.

Manager Lou Piniella said Thursday he picked Zambrano over Ryan Dempster for the April 6 start against Houston after discussing the choice with pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

Zambrano was 14-6 with a 3.91 ERA in 30 starts last season. Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA and made the NL All-Star team.

RAYS' PEREZ OUT THREE MONTHS (1:58 p.m. ET)
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Fernando Perez will miss the next three months after dislocating his wrist.

Perez was injured in Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays when he dove to his left for a fly ball.

"That's a play I make all the time, usually once a month or so," Perez said, according to MLB.com. "The whole trick to it is making sure you keep your glove from catching on the ground. My glove has never caught on the ground [before], then that. I'm using a little bit longer of a glove than I have been using, and it got caught under there. So it really surprised me."

"It's a dislocation, and it's unfortunate," Rays manager Joe Maddon said, according to the report. "I talked to him after it had happened, obviously he was very disappointed. He's really coming on as a young player, so it's difficult. But it could have been worse, so three months, we can live with that."

ANOTHER 'NO' VOTE FOR PEDRO (10:09 a.m. ET)
Baltimore Orioles president Andy MacPhail said after Wednesday's spring training game that the team has no intention of contacting Pedro Martinez's representatives about bringing the veteran right-hander aboard, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Martinez pitched for the Dominican Republic in an exhibition game last week and had a solid outing in an appearance against the Netherlands during the World Baseball Classic. But that has yet to translate into offers from major league teams, including the New York Mets, for whom Martinez pitched the past four seasons.

The Orioles already have one veteran arm in camp in Adam Eaton. He has yet to appear in a spring game, but he is younger than Martinez -- and the Phillies are on the hook for all but $400,000 of Eaton's salary.

"Obviously, our pro scouts are out in other camps, looking at other pitchers," MacPhail said, according to the Sun, "but we would have to think it is a meaningful upgrade."

REYES RETURNS, LIKELY TO LEAD OFF (9:59 a.m.)
With Jose Reyes headed back to New York Mets camp from the World Baseball Classic, manager Jerry Manuel is once again faced with a lineup question: Should he continue tinkering with the lineup or put Reyes back at the top of the order?

The answer is it's "more than likely" that Reyes will lead off when the season starts next month in Cincinnati, Manuel said Wednesday, according to the New York Daily News.

"When push comes to shove, we have to get him back where he's comfortable," Manuel said, according to the report.

Reyes went 1-for-9 with two walks in the WBC, which he left earlier than expected thanks to the Netherlands' stunning upset of the Dominican Republic. Manuel will wait until Saturday to insert Reyes back into the lineup, according to the report.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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HARANG PUTS PAST BEHIND (7:08 p.m. ET)
Aaron Harang took another step in getting beyond his dismal 2008 season, pitching four scoreless innings Wednesday during the Cincinnati Reds' 8-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Harang lost 17 games last season, by far the worst of his career, and slimmed down in the offseason. Cincinnati is counting on him to anchor a rotation that could be the team's strength this year.

Harang went 6-17 with a 4.78 ERA in 30 appearances last season. It was a huge decline for a pitcher who won 16 games each of the previous two seasons.

The Astros are 2-11-2 in spring training, including exhibitions against World Baseball Classic teams. Although the record is irrelevant, manager Cecil Cooper doesn't like the way his club is playing.

SCHUMAKER STRUGGLES AT 2B (7:05 p.m. ET)
Converted outfielder Skip Schumaker committed his fourth error of the spring at second base on Wednesday. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is sticking with the experiment for now, although he said Schumaker would be the designated hitter Thursday against Boston.

Schumaker is batting .333 in 30 at-bats after an 8-4 victory over the Florida Marlins, while getting a lot of playing time to familiarize himself with the new position. Moving to DH for a day offers Schumaker a chance to rest his legs a bit.

Schumaker batted .302 as the Cardinals' leadoff man last season while playing right field and center field. He found out not long before spring training that the team wanted him to try second base to ease a glut in the outfield.

MANNY TO GET BOBBLEHEAD (6:51 p.m. ET)
Manny Ramirez is getting his own bobblehead this season.

The slugger who recently agreed to a $45 million, two-year deal to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers will be commemorated with a dreadlocked version of himself. The first 50,000 fans in attendance will receive the doll July 22 against Cincinnati.

Third baseman Casey Blake will have his bobblehead giveaway on May 20 against the New York Mets. A third bobblehead night is scheduled for Aug. 19 against St. Louis, with the player to be named later.

SABATHIA, VERLANDER STRUGGLE (6:18 p.m. ET)
CC Sabathia allowed too many hits. Justin Verlander walked too many batters.

Despite struggling in the Detroit Tigers' 7-4 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday, both pitchers were not overly concerned.

"I felt like I was throwing the ball pretty sound," Sabathia said. "But they put the bat on the ball. It kind of snowballed."

All five runs off him came in the second, when Gary Sheffield hit the first of his two home runs.

"That was a big inning," Sabathia said. "I couldn't get out of the second inning. I'll get out and continue to keep working. I need to command both halves of the plate better."

He allowed five runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings and took the loss.

"He never seemed to find his rhythm today," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Verlander, the winner, gave up four runs -- two earned -- three hits and four walks in two innings. In the second, he walked three straight hitters.

"Obviously, I was erratic, but I wasn't missing by much," Verlander said. "The ball was jumping out of my hand better than it has in a long time."

Verlander said that while watching video of himself recently, he noticed his front foot was too stiff. He tried to keep his knee bent Wednesday when finishing his delivery.

"I'm not worried about him," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

MARLINS' AMEZAGA HURT (6:16 p.m. ET)
Florida Marlins utility player Alfredo Amezaga will be out four to six weeks because of a sprained left knee.

The Marlins don't know how Amezaga sustained the injury. He complained of knee stiffness after playing nine innings Sunday for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Amezaga returned to South Florida, and the injury was diagnosed Wednesday in Miami by Dr. Lee Kaplan.

Amezaga, who signed a $1.3 million contract in January, is the team's most versatile player. He played 79 games in center field last year, 19 at shortstop, 15 at third base and 10 at second.

He'll wear a protective cast for two weeks before resuming activity.

WHITE SOX PITCHERS IMPROVE (5:06 p.m. ET)
The White Sox are thrilled about the progress made by two of their rehabbing pitchers, Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon. Contreras is in terrific shape having lost nearly 30 pounds.

"I saw him throw," White Sox reliever Octavio Dotel said. "Wow. Wow."

If Colon and Contreras are healthy and ready to go by mid-April, the White Sox will have the best pitching in the AL Central. Colon is the wild card, but he trusts the White Sox staff, and they trust him. When he says he's going to be ready, the White Sox believe him.

The Sox have position battles going at second base with Chris Getz and Jayson Nix, and in center field with Brian Anderson and Jerry Owens. Best guess for today is that Getz and Anderson win those jobs.

Josh Fields is the leader at third base over 19-year-old Cuban Dayan Viciedo. Fields can hit, and his defense is improving. Viciedo is ready to hit in the major leagues right now; his power is remarkable.

The young player to watch in camp has been shortstop Travis Beckham, the Sox's No. 1 pick in last year's draft. "He is so impressive, he is so polished," Jim Thome said. "He has great balance at the plate. And I mean this in the most positive way: He's just cocky enough to think that he belongs here."

Beckham likely will start the year at Double-A, but there has been talk of trying him at second or third base since the White Sox have their shortstop of the future in Alexei Ramirez, whose natural position is shortstop. He will have much more range than Orlando Cabrera, Chicago's primary shortstop last season.

White Sox reliever Bobby Jenks is throwing so well, he jokingly says that he's worried. "I'm not a spring training pitcher," he said. "I have five strikeouts in four innings. Last year, I think it took me 20 innings to get my first strikeout."

Thome recalled his trip with his father to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown last summer. "It was one of the best days of my life," he said. "If I could freeze a day in time, that would be the day."

--ESPN's Tim Kurkjian

HALL ON THE MEND (5:06 p.m. ET)
The Brewers are encouraged that third baseman Bill Hall will be ready for Opening Day after suffering a partially torn calf muscle. He is expected to play in a game in the next few days.

Hall was injured doing conditioning drills on his own before the official start of spring training in the middle of February. He was expected to miss four to six weeks.

Hall batted .225 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs last season.

--ESPN's Tim Kurkjian

WELLS AGREES TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL (4:43 p.m. ET)
Right-handed pitcher Kip Wells, who has been with six teams in 10 seasons, agreed to a nonguaranteed minor league contract with the Nationals.

Wells, 31, is 65-94 with a 4.67 ERA in 256 games (205 starts). He has pitched for the Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh, Texas, St. Louis, Colorado and Kansas City.

MARLINS' VOLSTAD TAKEN OUT, JUST IN CASE (4:03 p.m. ET)
Pitcher Chris Volstad was taken out of Wednesday's spring training game against the Cardinals after absorbing a line drive off his thigh in the fifth inning.

Volstad walked off without effort after a liner by Joe Mather ended up in shallow right field for a single. It appeared to be a precautionary move given his replacement, Leo Nunez, had been warming up.

Volstad allowed two runs in four-plus innings in his third spring training start.

TIGERS PERSONNEL, INJURY UPDATE (3:17 p.m. ET)
Dane Sardinha was supposed to have been the Tigers' starting catcher Wednesday against the Yankees, but the team announced he "did not arrive at the ballpark due to a personal issue." Starting catcher Gerald Laird started in his place.

Outfielder Marcus Thames was unable to play because of an abdominal injury suffered in Tuesday's game against the Cardinals. He was examined by a doctor Wednesday morning, and the team was awaiting the results.

Manager Jim Leyland said Thames came up throwing after making a catch Tuesday and felt something in his abdomen. It was unclear how long he'll be out.

-- Jayson Stark, ESPN.com

ENCOURAGING OUTING FOR WOOD (3:12 p.m. ET)
Kerry Wood, the Indians' new closer, finally got to throw to someone not wearing a Cleveland uniform, and not just in front of the coaching staff's wary eyes.

Wood, who has been held back this spring because of soreness in his lower back, worked a scoreless inning with a strikeout in relief in the Indians' 8-4 loss to the Angels on Tuesday.

"It was nice to get a different uniform in the box," Wood said. "It always adds a new level of adrenaline."

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Wood was clocked between 91 mph and 94 mph.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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INJURIES UPDATE (10:38 p.m. ET)
Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang threw in the bullpen and will start Friday against Boston. He had his throwing session pushed back one day due to a bad cold.

Meanwhile, closer Mariano Rivera (right shoulder surgery) will throw BP for the first time Wednesday and could pitch in a game around March 17.

HOLLIDAY FACES FORMER TEAM (9:11 p.m. ET)
Oakland outfielder Matt Holliday enjoyed facing his former team for the first time.

Holliday, the 2007 National League batting champion, had two singles but the Rockies earned a 14-7 victory.

"These guys are going to be my friends until I die, no matter where I play, what team they're on or what team I'm on," Holliday said. "They're my friends and it's good to see them, no matter what the circumstances."

Holliday, who established himself as one of the premier power hitters in the majors during his five-year stint with the Rockies, was traded for closer Huston Street, pitcher Greg Smith and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez in the offseason.

SHEETS REHABBING WITH RANGERS DOC (9:01 p.m. ET)
Ben Sheets still might have a future with the Rangers.

Sheets, who had surgery on his right elbow, is rehabbing in the Arlington offices of Rangers team doctor Keith Meister, according to several media outlets.

While general manager Jon Daniels said Texas might consider Sheets when he's healthy, he also said Sheets made the decision to work with Meister on his own.

"There's not a connection there," Daniels told MLB.com. "I think he lives in Dallas and our club is there. He could have chosen to rehab anywhere he wanted to."

WEAVER SEES FIRST ACTION (8:55 p.m. ET)
Angels starter Jered Weaver allowed four hits and a run in two-thirds of an inning in his spring training debut.

Weaver began throwing off a mound only 11 days ago and has been held out of Cactus League action because of soreness in his throwing shoulder.

With Ervin Santana dealing with elbow inflammation and unlikely to start the season on time and with the Angels waiting for Kelvim Escobar to return after missing all of 2008, Weaver's health is quite valuable to a team that already will enter the season with two starters out of action.

"He'll be ready for the start of the season," manager Mike Scioscia said after Los Angeles' 8-4 win over Cleveland. "He's on-pace if there are no setbacks. I thought he had really good stuff. The command needs to be a little crisper, but that's to be expected. We just need to get him out there a little more so he can fine-tune some things."

Weaver was happy with the feeling in his shoulder.

"I've been working my butt off trying to get [my shoulder] back in shape and it's felt good the last week and a half or so," he said. "They haven't found anything in there, so I'm happy about that."

WOOD DEBUTS WITH TRIBE (8:53 p.m. ET)
New Indians closer Kerry Wood worked a scoreless inning with a strikeout in relief in his first spring appearance.

Wood, who had 34 saves with the Cubs last season before signing a two-year deal with Cleveland, has been held back due to soreness in his lower back.

"It was good to see [Wood] get out there," manager Eric Wedge said after Cleveland's 8-4 loss to the Angels. "It was good for Victor [Martinez] to be back there catching him, too."

Wood agreed.

"It was nice to get a different uniform in the box," he said. "It always adds a new level of adrenaline."

MORROW STILL HURTING (8:50 p.m. ET)
Mariners right-hander Brandon Morrow continues to suffer from tightness in his pitching forearm and may have to postpone his next scheduled start.

The 24-year-old Morrow had a brief bullpen session Tuesday, but couldn't shake the pain in his pitching arm that has prevented him from appearing in a spring training game since March 1.

He was scheduled to pitch this past weekend, but was scratched after complaining of tightness in his pitching arm. The Mariners then hoped the inflammation would subside with rest and pushed Morrow's start back to Friday against the Cubs. But after his bullpen session today, the 24-year-old Morrow isn't certain he'll be ready by then.

The Mariners had hoped Morrow would secure a spot in their rotation this spring after they moved him from the bullpen to a starting role last summer. Now, they aren't certain where he'll wind up when the regular season begins April 6 at Minnesota.

CHAMBERLAIN STEPS IT UP (8:05 p.m. ET)
Joba Chamberlain was much better in his outing for the Yankees on Tuesday, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking none in three innings of work.

Before the game, manager Joe Girardi had said he wanted to see more out of Chamberlain -- more command, in particular.

Facing the Cincinnati Reds, Chamberlain needed just 29 pitches to get through three innings, throwing 20 strikes, and his fastball velocity ticked up a couple of notches; the range of his fastball was 89-94. In his previous outing, Chamberlain had walked four of the five batters he faced. His line: Three innings, three hits, one earned run, no walks, three strikeouts.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say it's a sigh of relief just because there is a sense of urgency to get going," Chamberlain said. "We're less than a month away. You understand there is work to be done, but you also had to have that sense of urgency, also."

-- Buster Olney, ESPN The Magazine

MR. INTENSITY (4:11 p.m. ET)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a day off Wednesday, and manager Bob Melvin plans to spend it mountain biking with his bench coach and good buddy, Kirk Gibson.

Gibson went biking with D-backs bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock earlier this week in Tucson and broke the chain on his bike.

"I don't think it was for lack of leg strength,'' Melvin said. "He's a bit of a grinder. Gibby doesn't lack intensity when it comes to anything. When he has his mind set on doing something, he's all out."

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

CHAVEZ STARTING 'FROM SCRATCH' (3:33 p.m. ET)
Eric Chavez remains optimistic that he can play by Opening Day despite a setback in his shoulder rehabilitation.

The Athletics third baseman stopped baseball activities on Monday, a day after feeling right shoulder pain while swinging a bat.

"The big thing is getting pain-free and then kind of starting over slow," Chavez said Tuesday. "Take five swings. How does that feel? Take 10 throws. How does that feel? We have to start from scratch a little bit."

Chavez may try to hit or throw Thursday or Friday. He doesn't expect to play in a game for a while, not even as a designated hitter.

"I'm going to refrain from setting dates, but I'm going to try to recover as fast as I can and get back on the field as soon as I can, but meanwhile trying to get the shoulder healthy," he said.

PICKING THEIR SPOTS (3:23 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin is about to return from the World Baseball Classic, where Team Canada was eliminated by Italy on Monday.

In Martin's absence, veteran Brad Ausmus and 2003 draft pick A.J. Ellis have been logging the bulk of the time behind the plate. They had better enjoy the at-bats while they can, given that Martin has started 145 and 149 games the past two seasons, respectively.

Ausmus, who signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers over the winter, joked that the backup catching gig in Los Angeles is the easiest job in baseball.

"Or maybe the second easiest -- behind head groundskeeper in San Diego," Ausmus said.

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

UEHARA TO MISS NEXT START (2:40 p.m. ET)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Koji Uehara was expected to miss his next scheduled start after straining his left hamstring during Monday's game against the New York Mets.

Uehara, the first Japanese pitcher signed by the Orioles, apparently got hurt while covering first base. He was scheduled to go four innings, but came out after two.

"He probably will be backed up from the next time he pitches by two or three days," manager Dave Trembley said Tuesday. "I think instead of him pitching on five days' rest, it probably will be seven."

The injury is not believed to be serious.

Uehara received treatment on his left leg in the trainer's room Tuesday at Fort Lauderdale Stadium while the Orioles traveled to Fort Myers to play the Boston Red Sox.

NATIONALS TRIM ROSTER TO 58 (11:36 a.m. ET)
The Washington Nationals optioned left-hander Mike O'Connor to Triple-A Syracuse and left-hander Ross Detwiler to Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday in their first round of spring training cuts.

O'Connor was 1-1 with a 13.00 ERA in five games, including one start, for Washington in 2008. Detwiler, who was 8-8 in 26 starts with Class A Potomac last year, was the Nationals' first-round draft pick in 2007 out of Missouri State.

The Nationals also reassigned eight players to their minor league camp: left-hander Justin Jones; right-handers Bobby Brownlie, Preston Larrison and J.D. Martin; catcher Javier Herrera; first basemen Chris Marrero and Matt Whitney; and outfielder Destin Hood.

The moves leave Washington with 58 players in camp.

JONES APOLOGIZES TO DODGERS FOR 2008 (9:23 a.m. ET)
Calling last year "the worst year of my life, by far," Andruw Jones offered an apology on Monday for his disastrous 2008 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"I am sorry I didn't stand up to my reputation," he said, according to the Times. "I am sorry for what I put everyone through. I am sorry I did not make it work."

Jones, now with the Texas Rangers, is looking happier and fitter than last season, when he showed up at spring training overweight, batted a career-worst .158 with three home runs, was booed by Dodgers fans and left the team before the end of the season.

"I said I didn't care, but I heard them, and it wasn't any fun," Jones said of the booing, according to the Times. "I've never known a home player to be booed like that."

This year, things are starting off better. And Monday, after Jones homered off Claudio Vargas, Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he was glad Jones had turned things around.

"I'm happy for him," Torre said, according to the Times. "I hurt for him last year. He is certainly a lot better guy than he was portrayed to be."

VOTE FOR PEDRO? (8:54 a.m ET)
New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel is playing down speculation that the team will bring back Pedro Martinez as a fifth starter, saying the team is sticking with the pitchers it has in camp.

"Pedro is a Hall of Fame pitcher and one of the greatest pitchers of our time, but I feel very confident in the people we have in camp that [they] can get the job done," Manuel said. "Do you like Pedro? Of course, you love Pedro. But you have to be fair to the people that we have here."

According to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, a baseball source said there was "not a chance" the Mets will sign Martinez. The source said that the reasoning is not financial, but based on concerns about Martinez's pitching command.

Martinez, 37, who is pitching for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, said Monday that he'd be interested in rejoining the Mets, but that he's not going to beg them for a job, according to the New York Daily News. Martinez went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts last season.

The Mets are currently auditioning Livan Hernandez, Tim Redding, Freddy Garcia and Jonathon Niese for the No. 5 starting slot in the rotation.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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SANTANA TESTS ELBOW (9:19 p.m. ET)
Johan Santana tested his left elbow in another bullpen session Monday and the New York Mets ace is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday night against Florida at Tradition Field.

The Mets got a pinch-hit grand slam from Nick Evans in the eighth inning and a game-winning solo shot by Rene Rivera in the ninth to beat the Orioles 9-8. But on a day when Miami Dolphins executive Bill Parcells and coach Tony Sparano visited camp, it was Santana who took center stage.

SIZEMORE HEATS UP (9:19 p.m. ET)
Grady Sizemore went 3-for-3 in his second game back after a groin injury and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3 on Monday.

Sizemore scored twice and drove in two runs. Victor Martinez also went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

John Danks pitched two innings for the White Sox, allowing six runs, five earned, and eight hits. He struck out three and walked one.

Fausto Carmona allowed three runs and five hits in three innings for the Indians.

CHOO HURTING (8:45 p.m. ET)
Shin-Soo Choo will be examined by team doctors at the Cleveland Indians' spring training camp on Tuesday.

The outfielder complained of a sore left triceps last week while playing for South Korea in Japan during the World Baseball Classic. Choo had ligament transplant surgery in his left elbow in 2007, but a Korean spokesman said Thursday that its team doctors attributed the soreness to the climate change from training camp in Hawaii to the cooler Japan.

"This will give our people a chance at taking a look at Choo," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

Choo did not play Monday when South Korea defeated defending champion Japan 1-0 in pool play. He is 1-for-7 with a walk and three runs in three tourney games.

The Indians and South Koreans had agreed before the tournament that Choo would sit out one game in each round. It also was stipulated that he could play the outfield only once in the first round. In the second round, he can appear in the outfield in two games and they must not be consecutive.

LESTER MUM ABOUT DEAL (8:43 p.m. ET)
Jon Lester had much more to say about his changeup than he did about his future.

The left-hander threw 57 pitches in his third spring training start, and a makeshift Boston Red Sox lineup outslugged the Pittsburgh Pirates 15-14 on Monday in a 10-inning game that lasted 4 hours, 10 minutes.

Lester's outing came one day after Yahoo.com reported that he had agreed to a $30 million, five-year contract extension with a $13 million club option for 2014.

The Yahoo! Sports report cited an unidentified source close to the team. Lester, however, said no deal had been completed.

SAUNDERS IMPROVES (7:55 p.m. ET)
Joe Saunders pitched three innings in the Los Angeles Angels' 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

Saunders allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits. He has been dealing with elbow tightness that has slowed his progress this spring, but said he felt a little better on Monday.

ZITO A WORK IN PROGRESS (7:49 p.m. ET)
Barry Zito, sporting a 5.19 ERA in 8 2/3 Cactus League innings, continues to work toward finding a comfort zone with the Giants.

Zito threw 67 pitches -- 42 of them strikes -- in four innings against Milwaukee on Monday. He's still working to get a feel for his changeup, but said his main objective at the moment is throwing the fastball for strike one.

"It really sets up everything," Zito said. "That's pretty much what I'm trying to do -- get ahead with that heater on both sides of the plate."

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

NELSON, DUFFY STEP IT UP (7:46 p.m. ET)
At the beginning of spring training, it looked as if Trot Nixon and Tony Gwynn Jr. were the leading candidates to win reserve outfield jobs in Milwaukee.

But that's changed over the past two weeks. First Gwynn went down with a shoulder impingement. And Nixon hasn't made much of a case for himself with only two hits in 20 at-bats.

Brad Nelson and Chris Duffy have both stepped in to make strong bids for jobs. Duffy, the former Pirate, is hitting .296 in the Cactus League, while Nelson has been on a tear in Arizona. He singled in his only plate appearance against San Francisco on Monday to raise his spring training average to .563 (9 for 16).

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

PETTITTE FEELS GOOD (7:18 p.m. ET)
Andy Pettitte felt so good that the Yankees let him pitch longer than his scheduled one-inning stint in his first spring training start.

Pettitte allowed one hit over 1 2/3 scoreless innings of the Yankees' 6-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

Russ Adams and Travis Snider hit solo homers for Toronto. Rookie left-hander Brad Mills, bidding for a rotation spot, gave up two runs and four hits in 3 2/3 innings.

SCHMIDT BACK ON MOUND (7:17 p.m. ET)
Jason Schmidt was finally back on the mound for the Dodgers. Andruw Jones did something he rarely did in his only season with Los Angeles.

Schmidt, the $47 million pitcher who has had two shoulder operations since his last start in June 2007, threw two innings in Los Angeles' 13-7 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday.

Schmidt got through the first in 12 pitches. After a lengthy break while the Dodgers scored seven runs off Kevin Millwood, Schmidt walked two before Taylor Teagarden homered in the second.

Jones hit one of Texas' four homers. He had only three for Los Angeles last season.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Manny Ramirez will go through some baserunning drills in the next couple of days and is on schedule to make his spring debut Thursday.

YOUNG MOVE WORKING (7:15 p.m. ET)
Michael Young's transition from five-time All-Star and Gold Glove shortstop to third base is going well for the player and the Rangers.

"He's starting to get acclimated. He's beginning to find out that the balls get down there on you a little quicker," manager Ron Washington said Monday. "Catching the ball, moving into the hole, backhanding, coming in on slow rollers, he'll handle that."

Texas decided during the offseason to switch Young to third even though he had just won his first Gold Glove at shortstop. The move was made to make room for touted 20-year-old prospect Elvis Andrus to ascend from Double-A to the majors.

Young, the longest-tenured Rangers player, going into his ninth season, initially balked at the decision and asked for a trade. A few days after his request became public in mid-January, he rescinded it and started preparing to play a new position.

"It's going fine. The obvious stuff like ground balls isn't going to be a problem," Young said. "It's just kind of like letting your instincts take over, so I have a pretty good idea of where I want to play in certain situations."

Before a day off Monday, Young started nine of the first 11 spring training games and didn't have an error in his nine fielding chances.

YNOA MAKES DEBUT (7:13 p.m. ET)
Seventeen-year-old right-hander Michael Ynoa went through his first workout on U.S. soil since the Athletics gave him an eye-popping $4.25 million signing bonus in July. He set an optimistic timeline for reaching the majors.

"God willing, I believe two years, if I work very hard," Ynoa said Monday.

Last summer, the A's won a bidding war for Ynoa, who at the time was incorrectly referred to as "Inoa" in most reports. When they signed him, it was the largest bonus ever given to a non-Cuban international amateur player. It was the largest bonus the A's had paid to any amateur.

The 6-foot-7 Ynoa was referred to by the A's and other scouts as a "once-in-a-decade" talent. He was often compared to Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez.

Ynoa throws a fastball in the mid-90s, along with a curveball and a changeup. He finished Monday's 25-pitch session with a few changeups.

KAZMIR FEELS 'INCREDIBLE' (4:54 p.m. ET)
Scott Kazmir felt so good in his first spring training game that he had to concentrate on taking it easy.

Kazmir pitched two innings in the Tampa Bay Rays' 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Monday, yielding one run and three hits.

"Everything felt incredible; that's seriously the best my arm has ever felt," he said. "At the same time, I felt like I wanted to take it easy this first start. I knew once I got out there and got a hitter out there in a real game, the adrenaline was going to be there so I didn't want to overdo it."

Kazmir said he went "about 85 percent," and it caught up with him in the second inning. The All-Star left-hander allowed three hits in his last inning of work, including David Winfree's RBI double.

MOSS GOOD TO GO (4:22 p.m. ET)
The Pittsburgh Pirates say outfielder Brandon Moss has only a bruise and mild sprain of his right thumb and should be ready for Opening Day.

Moss injured his thumb Saturday and was examined at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh on Monday. He will return to Bradenton and begin working to regain strength in his hand and reduce swelling.

The Pirates also optioned reliever Romulo Sanchez and assigned infielder Pedro Lopez, catcher Miguel Perez and left-hander Daniel Haigwood to minor league camp.

Sanchez, 24, had a 4.05 ERA in 10 appearances with the Pirates last season. He will go to Class AAA Indianapolis.

The camp roster is at 53, with 26 pitchers, five catchers, 13 infielders and nine outfielders.

A'S CHAVEZ SCRATCHED (1:53 p.m. ET)
Eric Chavez's surgically repaired right shoulder bothered him when he was hitting during Oakland's exhibition game Sunday, forcing the Athletics to push back his spring debut in the field.

Chavez was scheduled to play third base against the Angels on Monday but was scratched, and manager Bob Geren said there was no timetable for his return.

"He experienced some pain in his shoulder yesterday, so we're going to give him a few days off even from DH-ing," Geren said.

Chavez underwent surgery on his right shoulder in August. Although he said before spring training that he felt like he could do everything, the A's were cautious about putting him into a game at third. The club initially hoped he'd play last week, but that was pushed back to Monday.

RIVERA RIGHT ON TRACK (12:23 p.m. ET)
Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera threw 30 pitches off the mound Monday morning.

The Yankees say everything is on track. Rivera plans to throw batting practice on Wednesday and says he hopes to pitch in a game next week.

Rivera had surgery Oct. 7 on the AC joint in his right shoulder.

-- Bob Holtzman, ESPN

CROSBY TRADING PLACES (11:32 a.m. ET)
Bobby Crosby will be playing third base Monday for the first time, and this might help to put him in position to be traded.

Crosby was very unhappy when the Athletics signed Orlando Cabrera last week, and asked Oakland to try to trade him. But Crosby is owed $5.5 million for this year, and he has already passed through waivers without being claimed, so it's unlikely that the Athletics can move him without eating a whole lot of money.

-- Buster Olney, ESPN The Magazine

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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HELTON BOUNCES BACK (9:36 p.m. ET)
Todd Helton had a ho-hum reaction to hitting a 450-foot home run in his first plate appearance of the spring following offseason back surgery.

"It's just one at-bat," the Rockies first baseman said. "Don't get me wrong, it is a lot better than a groundout to second base."

Helton hit Chris Young's 2-1 pitch in the first inning over a 35-foot wall in center field, leading Colorado to a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Helton, who played only two games after July 4 due to severe back pain, received a standing ovation from a crowd of 4,927 as he ran around the bases at Hi Corbett Field after his two-run shot.

CUBS SKIDDING (9:32 p.m. ET)
After the Cubs lost their sixth straight game, manager Lou Piniella decided it was time to send a message to his team.

"We're not hitting at all," he said after a 7-2 loss on Sunday to the Rangers. "And I haven't seen anyone ask for extra batting practice or anything. If I were a hitter I'd rather get to where I wanted to get and then back off a little bit as opposed to continuing to try to get where I wanted to get. The sooner you get there the better it is.

"Look, spring training wins or losses don't mean anything," Piniella continued, "but you don't want to get in the habit of getting ... beat everyday either. That I can tell you."

Chicago has lost eight of nine.

PERALTA NOT HIGH ON THIRD (7:51 p.m. ET)
Indians veteran shortstop Jhonny Peralta is skeptical about shifting over to play third base.

"I don't want to play third base," Peralta said in the morning before boarding a bus to go to an exhibition game in Phoenix against the Oakland Athletics -- where he made his first Cactus League start at third.

"I feel good at shortstop, but will do whatever they want. They say I will play a couple of games there. That's OK. Just don't forget that I am a good shortstop."

Indians manager Eric Wedge said he is well aware of Peralta's value at short and that he doesn't plan a permanent move -- for now.

"We want to play him a little third now, just in case we need him during the season," Wedge said. "You never know what might happen. Jhonny definitely is someone who can do it if we need him. But make no mistake, he's our shortstop."

Before the Indians made a New Year's Eve trade for versatile Mark DeRosa to play third, Wedge spoke about Peralta possibly moving to third with smooth-fielding second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera going back to his natural spot at short.

DeRosa primarily played second last year with the Chicago Cubs and the ring-around-the-infield scenario could occur at any time should Wedge get the inclination.

CORDERO HAS X-RAY (7:46 p.m. ET)
Reds closer Francisco Cordero gave up a homer run to the Blue Jays Scott Rolen with the bases empty in the seventh.

Cordero also gave up a two-run homer to J.P. Arencibia in his one inning of work. The right-hander had an X-ray on his right ankle earlier Sunday -- the same ankle where doctors removed a bone spur in September. He has had stiffness there recently.

SIZEMORE GETS SOME WORK (7:25 p.m. ET)
Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore, easing his way back slowly from a groin injury that prompted him to pull out of the World Baseball Classic, had two at-bats at designated hitter in Cleveland's 8-5 Cactus League loss to Oakland on Sunday.

Sizemore walked and flied out in two plate appearances against lefty Brett Anderson before being lifted for Travis Hafner, who has had only four at-bats this spring while coming back from offseason shoulder surgery.

Manager Eric Wedge said Sizemore will DH again Monday against White Sox lefty John Danks, but could resume playing center field in a "couple of days."

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

BURNETT MAKES DEBUT (6:00 p.m. ET)
A.J. Burnett threw two scoreless innings in his spring debut to help the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 12-3 on Sunday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi had limited Burnett to bullpen sessions and simulated games.

New York also announced that All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic hip surgery Monday and is expected to miss six to nine weeks. The slugger will need further surgery after the season.

SCHMIDT TO MAKE START (4:47 p.m. ET)
Jason Schmidt's long road back to the major leagues is becoming a little shorter. The right-hander will make his first "A" game exhibition start in two years in Arizona, manager Joe Torre said, according to MLB.com.

Schmidt is recovering from two shoulder injuries. He signed a three-yeat, $47 million contract in December 2006 but made only six starts for the Dodgers in 2007 before injuries halted his career.

He is battling for the fifth starter spot with Los Angeles.

ANDERSON NOT READY YET (4:43 p.m. ET)
Garret Anderson is limping through his first weeks with the Braves.

He strained his right calf before Friday's spring game and the 36-year-old is not close to returning to the field, according to MLB.com.

When asked if he would miss at least 10 days, Anderson said: "I've talked to the media long enough that I can't even say that. I don't like to commit to days with injuries, because when 10 days comes, I've got to talk to you again about it. So let's check in periodically and we'll go from there. It will be easier that way, because I really don't know."

Anderson spent the first 15 seasons of his career with the Angels before signing with the Braves in the offseason. He is penciled in as the starting left fielder.

DODGERS' TICKET SALES UP (4:37 p.m. ET)
The Dodgers sold more than 49,000 single-game tickets when they went on sale Saturday, a 33 percent increase from last year.

Fans bought 37,000 tickets on the first day of sales a year ago, the team said. The Dodgers did not increase prices from 2008.

The sales boost came three days after Manny Ramirez and the team reached agreement on a $45 million, two-year deal to bring the free agent slugger back.

"Enthusiasm is high," said Dennis Mannion, the club's chief operating officer.

The club, which brought back free agents Ramirez, Casey Blake, and Rafael Furcal, and which added such stars as Orlando Hudson and Randy Wolf, held tickets at 2008 prices.

BREWERS CUT GAGNE LOOSE (4:31 p.m. ET)
Eric Gagne, who came to Brewers camp looking for a roster spot, is finished in Milwaukee after a second doctor reported the right-hander has a frayed rotator cuff.

On Sunday, the team released Gagne from his minor league contract to allow him to begin a rehabilitation program for his shoulder.

Gagne was 4-3 with 10 saves and a 5.44 ERA for the Brewers last season.

PELFREY FEELING BETTER (2:11 p.m. ET)
Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey said the muscle strain in his lower left leg felt "much better" Sunday, according to Newsday.

Pelfrey will miss Monday's scheduled start against the Orioles but should be able to make his next turn in the rotation over the weekend.

"It's still sore and stiff, but a lot better," Pelfrey said, according to Newsday.

LOWELL LIKELY TO MAKE SPRING DEBUT TUESDAY (2:04 p.m. ET)
Mike Lowell is expected to make his spring training debut Tuesday as he continues his recover from offseason hip surgery.

Lowell will be the designated hitter against the Orioles, and if all goes well, he'll play third base against the Yankees on Friday.

"If things go according to plan, he will get a couple of at-bats on [March 10th] as the DH," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, according to MLB.com. "I kind of reserve the right to change this. But then we have a night game, three days later, maybe he'll play third base then. That's what he's shooting for. Our medical people don't seem to have a problem with it."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

ZAMBRANO WANTS OPENING DAY START (9:23 p.m. ET)
Carlos Zambrano wants to start on opening day for the Chicago Cubs, and he's not shy about it.

"I care," Zambrano said Saturday during a 2-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. "When you're retired and you go home and your grandkids ask you what you did, for your own records it's good."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said earlier in the day that the April 6 assignment against Houston will go to Zambrano or Ryan Dempster.

Zambrano was 14-6 with a 3.91 ERA last year, while Dempster finished 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA. Piniella said he would talk to both pitchers before making his decision.

-- Associated Press

STRAIN FORCES PELFREY TO MISS START (9:11 p.m. ET)
New York Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey will be out indefinitely with a muscle strain in his lower left leg.

He was examined by team doctors Saturday after feeling discomfort following a bullpen session Friday and was instructed to rest, which means he will miss his next scheduled start Monday.

Meanwhile, starter Dillon Gee threw two innings in the Mets' 7-5 loss to the Washington Nationals Saturday without allowing a hit or run. Only a walk spoiled his otherwise perfect outing, which included two strikeouts. Gee was reassigned to the team's minor league camp on Friday.

Manager Jerry Manuel expects 2B Luis Castillo to return to the lineup Sunday. He was pulled in the fifth inning of Friday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals with a tight left hamstring.

-- Associated Press

WANG BACK IN FORM AGAINST BRAVES (6:16 p.m. ET)
Chien-Ming Wang passed another test, and it had nothing to do with his pitching arm.

Wang allowed one run and three hits over three innings in the New York Yankees' 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

The right-hander missed the final 3½ months of last season because of a right foot injury that occurred while he was running the bases during an interleague game against Houston on June 15.

-- Associated Press

CONTRERAS, COLON PROGRESSING IN WHITE SOX CAMP (3:20 p.m. ET)
Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon are scheduled to throw batting practice at Chicago White Sox camp Monday, the next step after each threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday without any problem.

"It was a very positive day," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "We're more and more excited about their chances to be ready to open the season."

It was the third bullpen session since Monday for Contreras and Colon. Without setbacks, they could see Cactus League action in about a week.

Contreras is more than three months ahead of schedule after rupturing his left Achilles' tendon last August. Colon is coming off offseason surgery to clean up some bone chips in his right elbow.

If Contreras and Colon are ready for Opening Day, that could fill out the White Sox rotation behind Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd.

-- Associated Press

ZUMAYA'S SHOULDER SORENESS SAID NORMAL FOR SPRING (1:35 p.m. ET)
Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Joel Zumaya will not throw for at least the next couple of days, following an exam of his right shoulder by Dr. James Andrews on Friday.

Tigers head trainer Kevin Rand said Andrews diagnosed Zumaya's rotator cuff with "normal spring-training soreness." And Tigers manager Jim Leyland expects Zumaya will be ready for Opening Day on April 6.

That's good news for the Tigers, considering how much trouble Zumaya has had with his shoulder. He underwent reconstructive surgery on the shoulder's AC joint in 2007, missed much of 2008 and was diagnosed with a stress fracture last fall.

"We wanted to make sure there was nothing more going on," Rand said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "To be honest, we wanted to reassure him that everything was OK.

"One thing with Joel: You've got to understand that he's gone through an awful lot. He's thinking, 'Hey, I want to make sure nothing more's going on,' " Rand said, according to the report. "And you know what? I don't have a problem with it. I want to make sure for him, too. So, that's what we went to do."

A YEAR TO REMEMBER (1:24 p.m. ET)
The Los Angeles Angels are correcting their media guide after Vladimir Guerrero let slip that he's actually 34 years old, not 33.

The missing year was uncovered by Yahoo! Sports columnst Tim Brown, who was working on a story about Guerrero. He had asked the outfielder to respond to a quote from Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who said the surgery Guerrero had last fall to clean out and repair his right knee could "point to a guy maybe turning back the clock a couple of years."

When that was posed to Guerrero through an interpreter, he responded, "I feel good. I can't say [like] 25, because, you know, I'm 34. But I feel a lot better. That's where I'm at right now."

The Angels had listed Guerrero's birth date as Feb. 9, 1976. But Guerrero admitted to a team executive later in the day that he was born on the same date in 1975, making him 34, according to the Los Angeles Times.

'THE TEAM TO BEAT,' PART THREE
Perhaps Jimmy Rollins should have copyrighted the phrase, "We're the team to beat."

Because two years after the Philadelphia Phillies shortstop uttered those words, his confident prediction has skipped leagues and time zones, to the AL West. This time, it's the Los Angeles Angels' Torii Hunter making confident predictions.

"I still think we're the team to beat. I know we are," Hunter said before Friday's Angels-Giants game, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

But what about the Oakland Athletics loading up their lineup with Matt Holliday, Jason Giambi, Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra?

"Good pitching will beat good hitting any day. Don't forget that," Hunter said, according to the report, noting an Angels' rotation featuring John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders and a bullpen that added former Colorado Rockies closer Brian Fuentes.

Will the A's respond? Stay tuned ...

BRAVES' ANDERSON SIDELINED BY PULLED CALF (10:45 a.m. ET)
Baseball injuries can come out of nowhere. But even that doesn't explain what happened to new Atlanta Braves outfielder Garret Anderson on Friday.

Anderson, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Braves, was scratched from Friday's game against the Houston Astros after pulling his right calf muscle -- while running in warmups.

"I've never done anything like this before, so I don't have any history with it," Anderson said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Just have to see how it responds to treatment in the next few days before you can have a guess-timate, but it's tissue that needs to heal, and there's no set time on that."

According to the report, it will be several days before Anderson knows how long he'll be out of the lineup.

"I've been working out fine," Anderson added, according to the report. "And then something out-of-the-ordinary freak happens."

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CC ROUNDING INTO FORM IN NEW DIGS (12:05 a.m. ET)
CC Sabathia is off to a steady start with the New York Yankees.

The big lefty allowed an unearned run and two hits over two innings Friday night in his first outing for the Yankees, helping them to a 7-3 spring training victory over the Detroit Tigers. He struck out two during a 26-pitch outing that included 20 strikes.

Tigers designated hitter and former Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield thinks Sabathia will have no trouble adjusting to playing in New York.

"Like I told CC, I talked to him before he signed here, I told him, 'They're going to love you, man,'" Sheffield said. "Just pitch the way you always pitch. Make a bad pitch, give up a big inning, know that you're still CC and go back to the dugout. That's all you have to know. Try to focus on everything and carry a team, this ain't the team to carry. They've got a lot of superstars over there that know what they're doing. Just do your part and you'll be fine."

-- Associated Press

LINCECUM THROWS THREE MORE HITLESS INNINGS (7:43 p.m. ET)
Tim Lincecum is dominating hitters this spring the same way he did last season.

The 2008 NL Cy Young Award winner pitched three hitless innings for the San Francisco Giants in a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, giving him a total of seven scoreless innings in three exhibition starts.

Brad Coon hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to win it for the Angels in front of their first big crowd this spring (7,364).

-- Associated Press

JONES KEEPING BUSY IN RANGERS' CAMP (7:28 p.m. ET)
Andruw Jones got quite a workout at Texas Rangers camp Friday.

Jones went 2-for-4 with a walk in Texas' 8-7 loss to Kansas City, a game that started less than an hour after the five-time All-Star and non-roster outfielder went 3-for-5 with a home run in a "B" game against the Royals on a back field.

Brandon Boggs, one of the outfielders who could end up back in the minors if Jones makes the team, went 3-for-5 with three RBIs for the Rangers. Boggs' RBI double in the eighth scored Jones to snap a 4-all tie before John Whittleman's two-run homer.

-- Associated Press

CARDS' CARPENTER MAKING PROGRESS (6:54 p.m. ET)
Chris Carpenter is healthy and making progress.

Beset by arm injuries the past two seasons, Carpenter made his second start of the spring Friday and pitched out of trouble for two scoreless innings in the St. Louis Cardinals' 5-4 loss to the New York Mets.

"He didn't have great command of his fastball, but they didn't score -- and they had guys on base to do it," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "I would rather him not get taxed, but he passed the test and felt fine."

It wasn't as smooth as Carpenter's first outing last Saturday, when the 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner tossed a pair of hitless innings on 19 pitches against Washington. But he managed to keep the Mets off the scoreboard, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one.

-- Associated Press

MCCARTHY FEELS GOOD; NO BREAK FOR WILSON (5:21 p.m. ET)
Rangers right-hander Brandon McCarthy threw 62 pitches in three innings in a "B" game Friday without any problems in his shoulder.

McCarthy felt stiffness in his right shoulder this week. The team scratched him from his Friday Cactus League start but later decided to let him pitch in a "B" game against Kansas City after he played long toss and threw off a mound Thursday.

"It felt good. I came out of it with positive thoughts," McCarthy said. "It was loose, ready to go. ... It felt like a normal arm."

Left-handed reliever C.J. Wilson, who left Thursday's game with a swollen left index finger after facing only one batter, said his finger was feeling better and he planned to play catch.

Wilson was injured when he reached up to field a chopper, and the ball ricocheted off his bare hand. The swelling had subsided and his range of motion increased Friday. X-rays didn't reveal any breaks, though the Rangers' team doctor was expected to evaluate it this weekend.

-- Associated Press

REALLY, THIS TIME IT'S FOR SURE (3:41 p.m. ET)
Reliever Russ Springer had planned to retire after the 2008 season, but he elected to return on a one-year, $3.3 million contract with Oakland. Springer has pitched 16 seasons, and the Athletics are his eighth professional organization.

Springer, 40, vows that this is absolutely, positively his final career stop.

"My little girl told me, 'Daddy, you said the same thing three years ago. You're going to be going out there pitching with a walker,' '' Springer said. "But this is going to be my final season. I'm 99.2 percent sure I'm done.''

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

GLAVINE BACK ON THE MOUND (2:38 p.m. ET)
Despite having soreness in his left shoulder, Tom Glavine was satisfied after throwing about 20 pitches with the Atlanta Braves in his first round of batting practice Thursday.

Glavine, who turns 43 on March 25, underwent elbow and shoulder surgery in August.

"There's always that little bit of concern in the back of your mind when you're not feeling as good as you want to," Glavine told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "But I feel good about everything being structurally sound, based on the way I was able to do what I did today. It's just a matter of getting my arm strength back to where I want it to be."

Glavine was happy with his location and spin after throwing to Matt Diaz, Jason Heyward and Brandon Hicks, but will continue to work on his velocity in his next round of batting practice on Sunday.

Glavine is aiming to play in a game late next week.

"He's got 43 days," manager Bobby Cox said, according to the report. The Braves will not use a fifth starter until April 19.

WILL THE REAL NYJER MORGAN PLEASE STAND UP? (12:47 p.m. ET)
Pittsburgh Pirates manager John Russell would love to bat Nyjer Morgan in the leadoff slot this season. That is, if Morgan can play like he did last August upon returning from Triple-A Indianapolis, when he reached safely in 25 of 27 games, scored 20 runs and hit .366 -- and not the way he did to earn that demotion, when he batted a paltry .142.

So who's the real Nyjer Morgan? "I know which one," Morgan said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I just have to bring it out all the time. That's the key."

"I'm very comfortable at leadoff, and I have been since I was a kid," Morgan said, according to the report. "I feel like I have so much energy, and I love to be out there trying to get the boys going, be a pest, you know? That's my game."

Morgan still has to earn the job, however, And so far, not so good: He's hitting .211 (4-for-19) this spring. If he can't get it going, Eric Hinske could be the Pirates' starting left fielder.

"It's a huge opportunity, and I know that," Morgan said, according to the report. "This is what every kid dreams of, and I want it to be mine."

MY LEFT FOOT (11:49 a.m. ET)
Kansas City Royals left-hander Ron Mahay was on his way to a strong 2008 when the pain in his left foot became too much to pitch through. But two months after surgery to alleviate plantar fasciitis, he's back on the mound and feeling good, making his debut with a scoreless inning against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

For the Royals, that's a good thing. Mahay's being counted on to bolster the bullpen, with John Bale recovering from thyroid surgery and Jimmy Gobble having difficulty getting out right-handed hitters.

"The foot is fine," Mahay said, according to The Kansas City Star. "I don't think about it because I know it's fine. I'm going to do what I normally do. If I have to field a bunt, I'm going to go after it like I would normally."

"We're gradually working into things," he said, according to the report. "We're just not going to pound [the foot] to the point where it's an issue."

Mahay, 37, entered August at 5-0 with a 1.75 ERA in 47 appearances. But the swelling and pain in his foot worsened and limited him to 10 appearances over the last two months. Without the ability to push off the rubber with his left foot, he struggled in those 10 games, allowing 14 runs and 16 hits in eight innings as his ERA soared to 3.48.

GIANTS CUT DAVE ROBERTS (11:30 a.m. ET)
The San Francisco Giants released veteran outfielder Dave Roberts on Thursday, a surprise move that could cost them $6.5 million this season.

The 36-year-old Roberts signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Giants in 2007, but played only 166 games in his first two seasons because of elbow and knee injuries. He entered camp this spring as the fifth outfielder behind starters Fred Lewis, Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn, and young prospect Nate Schierholtz.

"It's a surprising blow. I have to rebound from this. I was expecting to see this thing through. I love the makeup of this ballclub. I really wanted to be a part of things," Roberts said.

"There just wasn't a light at the end of the tunnel for him," Giants GM Brian Sabean said. "I was honest with him. We wanted to get younger and quicker. That's not his résumé. To wait any longer would have been an injustice to our kids. This will also give him a chance to find a place to play."

-- Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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MEXICO ROUGHS UP WEBB (11:25 p.m. ET)
Good thing for the Arizona Diamondbacks that Mexico isn't in the NL West.

Fueled by a chanting, flag-waving crowd, Team Mexico roughed up Arizona ace Brandon Webb in a 19-4 rout of the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.

Webb allowed six runs, five earned, in 1 1/3 innings in his spring debut. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out one.

Webb had been scratched from his first start with a sore forearm. But he said his arm "felt pretty great" and that his main problem was rushing his delivery.

"You just get out of your rhythm and out of your comfort zone trying to do too much, and that's probably where I was at today," Webb said.

Jerry Hairston hit a three-run homer and knocked in four runs, his brother Scott Hairston added a two-run shot and Jorge Cantu hit a grand slam and drove in six runs in a rousing tuneup for the World Baseball Classic. Alfredo Amezaga added a solo shot for Mexico.

The Hairstons were born in the U.S., but they're eligible to play for Mexico because their mother is from Hermosillo, Mexico.

PUERTO RICO ON ROLL (11:19 p.m. ET)
The way Puerto Rico is pitching and hitting, manager Jose Oquendo likes his club's chances of making a strong showing in the World Baseball Classic.

Jonathan Sanchez worked three scoreless innings, Alex Rios went 2-for-3 with a double and triple, and Ivan Rodriguez and Ramon Vazquez each drove in a run Wednesday night to pace a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I think it's coming along good," Oquendo said after the second of three exhibitions Puerto Rico is playing in preparation for its WBC opener against Panama.

With a potent lineup that also includes Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Geovany Soto and Bernie Williams, Team Puerto Rico is hoping to improve on its 2006 fifth-place WBC finish.

"We have more experience now. Delgado was hurt the last time and only had one at-bat," Oquendo said. "We definitely have a good ballclub that we can do a lot of things with. The key is you've got to pitch, you've got to play defense and also do the little things. I think we have the club to do that."

GONZALEZ BACK FROM KNEE INJURY (9:48 p.m. ET)
Alex Gonzalez was relieved to be back on the field.

Gonzalez singled in two at-bats as the designated hitter after missing all of last season with a knee injury, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Netherlands 4-3 in 10 innings on Wednesday night.

He felt some tightness in the left knee, which was packed in ice after he was removed.

"Finally, almost a year since I played. My first at-bat I felt good," Gonzalez said. "I'm looking forward to playing shortstop and being 100 percent to help my team. If I keep doing what I've been doing. I'll be ready for the start of the season."

The game was Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker's first look at Gonzalez. He was pleased with his batting, but said he ran tentatively.

"It feels good to have him in there," Baker said. "If he feels good, he'll be back at DH tomorrow, then we'll get him in the field next week. I want to just see natural movement. The hardest thing about recovering from an injury is realizing that you're over it."

In other news, the Reds have invited President Barack Obama to throw out the first pitch at this year's Civil Rights Game at Great American Ball Park.

The game is June 20 against Obama's favorite team, the Chicago White Sox.

Reds chief executive Bob Castellini says the White House has not responded to the invitation.

The Civil Rights Game has been played in Memphis, Tenn., since 2007 as an exhibition at the end of spring training. The Reds bid and won the right to host the game in 2009 and 2010.

PEDRO STILL A FAN FAVORITE (9:19 p.m. ET)
Pedro Martinez hasn't landed a major league contract as a free agent, in part because he's 37 and has struggled through three consecutive injury-riddled seasons. Yet the right-hander is still a favorite of baseball fans and is appreciated by his teammates on the Dominican Republic squad, which is preparing for the World Baseball Classic.

As he approached the mound in the fourth inning of an exhibition game Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, Martinez was showered by chants of "Pedro! Pedro!" from the pro-Dominican crowd.

The first batter he faced, Ty Wigginton, hit a popup that traveled about 10 feet in front of the plate but dropped untouched -- a tainted double. Martinez then gave up an RBI double to Felix Pie and a run-scoring single to Gregg Zaun.

But in the fifth, after walking the leadoff hitter, Martinez struck out two of the next three batters, ending his outing by blowing a called strike past Wigginton.

Martinez went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts for the New York Mets last year, but he looked sharp against the Orioles, considering he had not pitched in a game since Sept. 25.

"Pedro threw well," Dominican Republic manager Felipe Alou said. "It was amazing that a guy who hasn't pitched in a real game for so long can come back and be in the strike zone. Some of the fastballs were good, some of the breaking balls were good."

SAUNDERS PITCHES PAIN-FREE (9:03 p.m. ET)
Joe Saunders pitched two scoreless and pain-free innings in the Los Angeles Angels' 13-6 exhibition victory over South Africa's World Baseball Classic team on Wednesday.

He allowed two hits and struck out three in his first spring training start. Saunders had felt some shoulder soreness when he played long toss at the beginning of camp, but he said it's gone now.

Saunders is coming off a breakthrough season in which he went 17-7 with a 3.41 ERA and earned his first All-Star berth.

Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia rested his regular lineup against a South African team that featured several players just out of high school.

DH HAFNER TO RETURN FRIDAY (9:02 p.m. ET)
The Indians are expecting designated hitter Travis Hafner to make his first start Friday. He had surgery on his right shoulder in October, an injury that limited him to 57 games last season when he batted .197 with five homers and 24 RBIs.

Outfielder Dave Dellucci is also expected to appear in his first game. He slammed the trunk of his car on his left thumb a few days before camp and needed several stitches to close the cut.

BRADLEY BACK IN CUBS LINEUP (9:01 p.m. ET)
Milton Bradley was back in the Cubs lineup for the first time in nearly a week and had a double in three at-bats during Chicago's split-squad, 5-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

Bradley walked in his first at-bat for the Cubs on Feb. 26 but was removed for a pinch runner because of tightness in his quadriceps. He was the designated hitter Wednesday.

"I felt good today," Bradley said. "I'm just going to pace myself. In my first game I really didn't feel like I played because I knew I would only get one at-bat."

The Cubs were without manager Lou Piniella and several of their regulars, who are in Las Vegas for a two-game series against the White Sox. Second baseman Aaron Miles, first baseman Derrek Lee and Bradley were the only everyday players in the lineup.

HAMELS BACK ON MOUND, CARRIES PHILLIES (6:38 p.m. ET)
Cole Hamels returned to the mound for the first time since helping the Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series and pitched two scoreless innings in a 9-2 win over Canada on Wednesday.

"It was nice to get out there against a team that's competitive," said Hamels, who went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts in October. "These hitters are getting ready for the world classic and they want to be in prime hitting shape. [So it was about] knowing how to bear down, finding the location and throwing your pitch."

Hamels, the World Series MVP, last pitched on that rainy night in October, when Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays was suspended in the sixth inning. Against Canada, the 25-year-old lefty breezed through his outing with 24 pitches.

The Phillies held Hamels back earlier this spring because he threw a career-high 262 1/3 innings in the regular season and playoffs combined last season, more than any other pitcher in baseball.

"I just wanted him to get his feet on the ground, get his delivery in, his reps in," Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "This is his first whack, he's got five more outings [down here] and today was great. ... it was good to see him on the mound, compete under control and get the required work in that he needed."

On April 5 against the Atlanta Braves, Hamels will take the mound in the first Opening Day start of his career, hoping to live up to the hype he produced in the postseason last fall.

BLUE JAYS RALLY BY U.S. (6:15 p.m. ET)
Strong pitching by Brad Mills and Matt Clement allowed the Toronto Blue Jays to rally against the United States.

Mills and Clement combined for six one-hit innings and minor leaguer Brien Dopirak's two-run single in the ninth gave the Blue Jays a 6-5 victory Wednesday.

Mills pitched two perfect innings before a walk to Mark DeRosa, Chris Iannetta's single and Curtis Granderson's grounder gave the United States a run.

The right-handed Clement, who hasn't pitched in the majors since rotator cuff surgery in September 2006 while with Boston, would have had three perfect innings had it not been for first baseman Kevin Millar's two-out error in the sixth.

"Both of them did a good job for us against a tough team," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "[Mills] is a tough kid out there. He has the right makeup for it. He doesn't rattle out there at all."

DOMINICANS PUNCHLESS WITHOUT A-ROD (5:39 p.m. ET)
Playing without Alex Rodriguez, the Dominican Republic was rendered punchless by Koji Uehara and three far less notable pitchers for the Baltimore Orioles.

Uehara pitched three scoreless innings and the Dominican squad preparing for the World Baseball Classic managed only one extra-base hit -- a double by Jose Guillen -- in a 6-1 exhibition loss Wednesday.

Uehara, Baltimore's first Japanese-born player, gave up two hits and hit a batter in his second strong outing of the spring. Facing a lineup that included All-Stars David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Hanley Ramirez, the right-hander struck out two and threw strikes on 23 of 36 pitches.

"I understand there are a lot of big-name players. To get that kind of result, I'm happy with that," Uehara said through a translator.

The Dominican lineup was missing one important piece: Rodriguez, who left for Colorado for an exam by a hip specialist after an MRI last weekend revealed a cyst on his right hip.

DAMON NOT MIFFED AT A-ROD (3:05 p.m. ET)
Johnny Damon is taking Alex Rodriguez's latest remarks in stride, while Derek Jeter is staying silent. Rodriguez caused a stir after playing for the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, saying he would like to see Mets shortstop Jose Reyes at the top of the Yankees' batting order. Rodriguez said he wasn't disrespecting his Yankees teammates.

"Everything that comes out of Alex's mouth nowadays is going to be scrutinized," Damon said before the Yankees played the Braves on Wednesday. "I'm not going to let that bother me, and I hope Derek doesn't go that way either. We all know Jose Reyes is a great player, a great leadoff guy. He's a great player who might have 10 or 15 more years left in him. Yeah, I think there's probably 25 other teams who would want him to lead off and play short."

Jeter worked out at Steinbrenner Field before leaving to join the United States for a game Wednesday against Toronto.

"I've got nothing to say, man," Jeter said.

Damon joked that when Rodriguez rejoins the Yankees, he was going to "go out there and prove to Alex what I can do."

RANGERS SCRATCH MCCARTHY FROM START (2:30 p.m. ET)
Texas Rangers right-hander Brandon McCarthy has been scratched from his scheduled spring training start Friday because of tightness in his right shoulder, another setback for the pitcher plagued by injuries the past two seasons.

McCarthy felt tightness during a bullpen session Monday, two days after he threw two innings in his only spring start. He had planned to throw in the bullpen again Thursday before determining how he felt, but the Rangers instead said he wouldn't start Friday.

"He's had some stiffness and we certainly don't want him to hurt himself any further," manager Ron Washington said Wednesday. "We're just going to wait and see how it goes."

Since being traded from the Chicago White Sox for John Danks before the 2007 season, McCarthy has been on the disabled list four times. He made only five starts (22 innings) last season after missing four months because of right forearm inflammation.

YOUNG SAYS HE'S COMPLETELY RECOVERED (11:10 a.m. ET)
Padres starter Chris Young pitched two strong innings Tuesday, giving up only a solo home run to Dodgers left fielder Mitch Jones, and afterward he talked about his recovery from a frightening injury last spring.

On May 21, 2008, Young was hit in the face by an Albert Pujols line drive. The impact of the ball broke his nose and fractured his skull. Remarkably, Young returned to the mound last July, and he says now that he is all the way back.

"I feel really good," he said. "I've made, I'd say, a full recovery. I feel real fortunate to be back out there. There are really no ill effects."

Young knows how close he came to never seeing the mound again. "A little bit right or left, it's one of my eyes and could have ended my career," he said. "The severity of the cracked skull potentially could have caused some life-threatening infections. I'm extremely fortunate."

But he comes into this season with a real sense of resolve, and said he has put the injury behind him.

"I don't think I could jump back on the mound without thinking that it is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It's happened once, I got through it. I might have line drives back at me. Hopefully they won't hit me in the face again ... I'd like to think it was just a freak, one-time thing."

-- Eric Neel, ESPN The Magazine

ROYALS' DAVIES A THROWBACK (10:58 a.m. a.m. ET)
Kyle Davies, an up-and-coming major league pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, had no need of extra cash last winter. He'd just been paid $427,000 for the 2008 season.

Yet, there he was, pouring concrete, digging ditches and operating a jackhammer under the Georgia sun on his dad's construction crew.

"What am I going to do, sit on the couch every day? You make yourself lazy," he said.

He's no stranger to construction work. Since he was about 12 or 13, Davies has spent most of his summers working for Davies General Contracting near Atlanta.

"It keeps you in shape, keeps you off the couch," said Davies, penciled in as the Royals' No. 3 starter. "The offseason can get really long. You can sit there and think about way too much. Instead of doing that, I just got up early in the morning and went to work."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WEBB SET FOR START (9:34 p.m. ET)
Diamondbacks righty Brandon Webb is scheduled to make his first start of the spring Wednesday at Tucson Electric Park against Team Mexico.

Webb has been held out since feeling tightness in his right forearm while playing catch Feb. 26, the day before his first scheduled spring start against the White Sox.

"It was a real minor thing, and to the point that now he is actually on a regular spring training schedule," Melvin said. "It hasn't been an issue since he was playing catch." Webb threw a bullpen session three days ago

HARDEN COMING ALONG (9:30 p.m. ET)
Cubs right-hander Rich Harden threw in a bullpen session Tuesday morning, and all indications are that it went well.

He will throw a simulated game Friday and make his Cactus League debut early next week

PRIOR THROWS IN BULLPEN AGAIN (8:10 p.m. ET)
Padres right-hander Mark Prior drew a crowd for his latest bullpen session on Tuesday, which lasted about 10 minutes and included 45-50 pitches.

"It felt all right," said Prior, who threw only fastballs. "I don't think it was as good as my last one as far as how I felt, but I felt good out there. For a while it was moving pretty quick then it slowed down at the end, talking about some things."

Prior, who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since Aug. 10, 2006, is trying to bounce back from shoulder surgery in June.

LOOPER OUT TO START SEASON? (5:02 p.m. ET)
Brewers righty Braden Looper will miss his second straight spring training start because of a strained oblique muscle and might not be ready for Opening Day.

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Brewers manager Ken Macha said Tuesday that Looper will not be allowed to throw for the next 10 to 12 days and might not heal in time for the April 7 opener.

"We may have to be prepared for getting somebody else ready," Macha said.

Righty Seth McClung will take Looper's rotation spot and will start Thursday against Australia's World Baseball Classic team.

Looper, signed as a free agent for $4.75 million just before spring training, was scratched minutes before his scheduled start Saturday against the Angels after he felt tightness in his left oblique during his bullpen warm-ups. He has said he first felt a twinge in his side when he sneezed earlier in the week.

"I know I'm feeling a lot better," he said. "I hope I feel good enough Thursday that by my next turn in the rotation I'd be ready to throw to hitters. That's just my goal. That may be completely not feasible, but that's what I'm working for."

DREW FEELING BETTER ALREADY (3:32 p.m. ET)
J.D. Drew returned to Boston on Monday and received an injection in his lower back, according to The Boston Globe, but manager Terry Francona emphasized the move was "precautionary" and Drew was not facing surgery any time soon.

"The day he left, he was hitting balls onto that street. I just think we felt like it was a good time to do it," Francona told the Globe. "We weren't comfortable having it done down here. [Dr. Bill Palmer]'s so good. There's a reason we want him to do these things. So we just thought, again, we'd take advantage of the earliness of camp and try to get it done."

Drew's back was problematic in the latter portion of last season, when a herniated disk limited his playing time and continued to affect him in the offseason.

Drew, back with the Red Sox in Fort Myers on Tuesday, told a Boston television reporter that he already was encouraged by the results, the Globe reported.

"Yeah, you know it was really encouraging," he said on NESN. "Usually after you get an injection like that, because of the numbing medicine, if you feel relief right away then they've kind of got it in the right area. Felt really good getting up off the table, so I was very encouraged by that, and think hopefully this could be kind of a long-term benefit."

Francona said he didn't know what the injection was, but added Drew was scheduled to take batting practice on Thursday and be in the lineup on Friday, the Globe reported. Story

STRAWBERRY UNDERSTANDS A-ROD (3:10 p.m. ET)
Darryl Strawberry understands what Alex Rodriguez is going through. On his first day at spring training this year as an instructor with the Mets, Strawberry said he would have been tempted to use performance-enhancing drugs in his playing days.

"In our nature, we are competitive creatures, and we have a tremendous drive and high tolerance," Strawberry said Tuesday. "I'm not saying that was the right thing to do, but people ask me, if I was faced with it, what would I have done? If that was going on in the era of the '80s, it probably would have been in my system, too."

Strawberry said he respects Rodriguez for making the admission but thinks it's unfair A-Rod was the only name to become public among the 104 on a sealed list for testing positive during baseball's anonymous 2003 survey. Strawberry hasn't spoken directly with Rodriguez but has passed on messages of encouragement through Yankees contacts.

"It's unfortunate, but that's what happens when you play in New York," Strawberry said. "A lot of times everyone is going to pick on the biggest player, and he is the biggest player in the game. He is a great player, regardless of what people say."

Strawberry thinks Rodriguez now has an opportunity to help teach young players to learn from his mistake.

SHOULDER AILING GAGNE (2:57 p.m. ET)
A shoulder problem might hurt Eric Gagne's chance to make the Brewers' bullpen in spring training.

Assistant general manager Gord Ash told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Gagne, whose shoulder began acting up after his last bullpen session, wanted to pitch through the problem but the Brewers, on the advice of medical personnel, won't allow it.

The Brewers have no timetable for Gagne's return.

NO SHOULDER PAIN FOR NATHAN (2:49 p.m. ET)
Closer Joe Nathan said he felt no pain after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday.

"I feel great -- and that's no lie," Nathan told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "The real test will come later."

Nathan, whose sore shoulder forced him to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic, said he felt no soreness in the AC joint while throwing and plans to throw to live hitters during batting practice Thursday. He could also pitch an inning during the Twins' game against the Pirates on Saturday.

LATE TO CAMP, EARLY TO IMPRESS (8:57 a.m. ET)
First baseman Mike Carp considers himself the recipient of good fortune, having walked away from a pre-camp car wreck with not a scratch.

The Mariners believe they are the lucky ones, after seeing their prospect make a huge impression this spring.

Carp, 22, has shown an attack mentality at the plate, boasting an early spring batting average of .444. The Mariners had insisted on getting Carp, who spent last season at Double-A Binghamton, from the New York Mets in a three-team, 12-player trade in December that sent former All-Star closer J.J. Putz to New York. Seattle saw Carp as a future regular at first base, perhaps as soon as 2010.

But with his performance so far, Carp is opening eyes as a possible contributor this season, part of the Mariners' never-ending quest for left-handed hitting.

Carp had delayed leaving for spring training from his Lakewood, Calif., home because of heavy rains in the area. But a downpour began early in his trek anyway, and after getting splashed by a passing car, his 2003 Mustang Cobra hydroplaned, spun around twice, then slammed into a cement divider in the median.

Carp then drove the wrong way for about 100 yards against oncoming traffic to get out of everyone's way -- "a little stunt driving," he said with a chuckle.

Afterward, he phoned Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik and braced for a reprimand about being late to camp. But Zduriencik made sure Carp was OK, then told him to wait a day before going to camp. "He took it better than I thought he was going to," Carp said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

CONTRERAS, COLON CONTINUE COMEBACKS (9:31 p.m. ET)
With general manager Ken Williams, pitching coach Don Cooper and manager Ozzie Guillen all looking on, both Jose Contreras and veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon threw their first pitches off the mound of spring training before the White Sox's 5-3 loss to the Mariners on Monday.

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Contreras is more than three months ahead of schedule after rupturing his left Achilles tendon last August. Not only did he throw all his pitches, but several times he dropped his arm angle down and threw sidearm to test the injury.

His fastball had pop on it, leaving Cooper saying, "Hey, we could plug him tomorrow. But we're not going to do that."

Colon is coming off offseason surgery to clean some bone chips up in his right elbow.

Contreras and Colon are on the same schedule, each penciled in to throw off the mound Wednesday and then again on March 7. If there are no setbacks, they will face hitters in a batting practice session on March 9, with the hope of seeing Cactus League action by March 15 or 16.

HAMILTON GETS DAY OFF (8:58 p.m. ET)
Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday after some extra recovery time for his strained left Achilles tendon.

Hamilton, who got hurt Sunday, didn't travel with the team for its spring training game Monday against Cleveland. Hamilton did report to Rangers camp and asked to be the designated hitter against the Indians, but the decision was made for him to not make the trip.

Texas has its first off day of the spring Tuesday, giving Hamilton consecutive days off.

Hamilton, an All-Star last season who hit 32 home runs and led the American League with 130 RBIs, felt tightness after hitting a triple in the first inning Sunday. He said it was no big deal and that he felt fine after coming out of that game.

The 28-year-old Hamilton is 5-for-9 with two homers, a triple and four RBIs in four games this spring.

DODGERS LOOKING FOR A FIVE GUY (8:47 p.m. ET)
The field of pitchers in the running for the Dodgers' fifth starter spot behind No. 4 Clayton Kershaw is quite deep.

But manager Joe Torre feels with more than a month before the team opens the season in San Diego on April 6, there is still plenty of time for a solid No. 5 to emerge.

Two prime candidates, Eric Milton and Claudio Vargas, each tossed a pair of scoreless innings in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox. Shawn Estes, Jason Schmidt and Jeff Weaver,big league starters who have been sidetracked by either injuries or on-mound struggles, are also on the lengthy list.

"Right now, Milton's been good, Vargas has been good, and they're definitely in the hunt for this thing," Torre said. "I don't have a guy we're looking at most right now. We're taking all the information and we're digesting it. We have time to see these guys pitch and stretch them out some, and they have time to show where they are."

Meanwhile, top Dodgers prospect Ivan DeJesus Jr. broke his right leg sliding into home plate during a B game against the Brewers. DeJesus, the organization's minor league player of the year for 2008, was taken off the field on a cart and X-rays revealed he had a broken lower tibia.

The 21-year-old son of former major league shortstop Ivan DeJesus was taken to a hospital and will remain there overnight while a decision is made whether he needs surgery on the leg. Torre said the shortstop is likely done for the season.

BOCHY HAS SURGERY (8:17 p.m. ET)
Giants manager Bruce Bochy missed Monday's game against the Royals to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in San Francisco. Bochy had tears in his labrum and biceps repaired and is expected to rejoin the club Tuesday.

Bench coach Ron Wotus managed the team in Bochy's place.

WANG RETURNS (6:05 p.m. ET)
Chien-Ming Wang made his first appearance since partially tearing a tendon in his foot running the bases against Houston in June, pitching two scoreless innings for the Yankees in a 5-5 tie with the Astros.

"I feel good," Wang said. "Nothing wrong."

Wang, who threw 23 pitches, said he felt "about the same" as he has in previous seasons, including when he won 19 games in both 2006 and 2007.

"I think when you have an injury like that, you watch how they push off and he looked the same as before he got hurt," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That means he's comfortable with the way he feels. If he's comfortable with the way he feels, we're obviously a lot more comfortable."

Meawhile, Jorge Posada, scratched from the Yankees' starting lineup Saturday because of minor soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder, went 1-for-3, including an RBI single, as the designated hitter. He also threw at 100 feet before the game.

HANGING ON IN CHICAGO? (4:23 p.m. ET)
The Cubs have a couple of unlikely bullpen candidates hoping to win jobs in Mesa. Chad Fox, who has undergone three Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow, signed a minor league contract in January. And Mike Stanton, who ranks second to Jesse Orosco on baseball's career list with 1,178 appearances, is giving it another shot after signing a minor league deal at age 41.

Stanton didn't pitch in the majors last year after being released by Cincinnati in April. He continued to throw until July, then shut it down for several weeks when nobody called. When he resumed working out, it was with the help of a personal trainer for the first time in his career.

"There's no doubt in my mind I can still do this,'' Stanton said. "I can still compete. The right situation didn't come up after the Reds let me go, so I had a great summer with my family.

"I didn't think I'd have any problem getting somebody to invite me to spring training, but I wanted it to be the right situation where I'd have a chance to make the club. I didn't want to be away from the family just to go through the motions.''

Stanton has been in pro ball since 1987, and this is his first spring training in Arizona.

"My god, it's dry out here,'' he said.

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

LIDGE GETTING BACK ON TRACK (3:53 p.m. ET)
Brad Lidge has yet to pitch in a spring training game. But things are starting to look up for the Phillies closer.

That's because Lidge, who has been bothered by tightness in his right forearm, had a solid bullpen session Monday.

"I felt for the first time this spring like I have a fighting chance at getting somebody out," Lidge told MLB.com. "Before I was wondering how I was going to do it."

Lidge also said he's on schedule for the April 5 season opener but hopes to pitch about 10 Grapefruit League games before that.

"The timetable right now is pretty good," Lidge told MLB.com. "[Monday] I threw well enough to be competitive, but I've got a little ways to go."

SABATHIA THROWS SIMULATED GAME (1:27 p.m. ET)

Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia threw 28 pitches over two innings in a simulated game Monday in Tampa, Fla.

The expected Opening Day starter made 14 pitches in both innings against Hideki Matsui and Kevin Cash in preparation for his first spring training start Friday night.

"Just trying to get a feel for it, the first time throwing to guys without a [pitching] screen up," Sabathia said. "It felt good."

Matsui, coming back from left knee surgery last Sept. 22, is expected to make his first spring appearance as the designated hitter in the next few days.

WOOD FEELS 'GREAT' AFTER BULLPEN SESSION (1:08 p.m. ET)

Cleveland Indians closer Kerry Wood threw 40 pitches in the bullpen for the second straight day, MLB.com reported, a demand he likely won't have to face once he's deemed ready again for live games.

"If I throw more than 40 in one inning," Wood said, "we probably lost."

Wood, 31, had taken several days off last week with soreness in his lower back.

"I feel great," Wood said, according to the Web site.

DUNN TO REPLACE HAWPE FOR CLASSIC (12:58 p.m. ET)

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Dunn will replace Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe on Team USA's roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Hawpe was injured after a collision at second base during a spring training game Friday against the Anaheim Angels and received four stitches.

Hawpe had been expected to join Team USA on Sunday night in Clearwater, Fla., according to MLB.com.

"You get to play for your country," Dunn said, according to the site. "It's a good thing to get in serious games and break up the monotony of spring. I would assume your concentration level [is at an all-time high]. I would kind of compare it to the playoffs. All the games are a must-win."

WEBB SET TO PITCH WEDNESDAY (9:06 a.m. ET)
Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb threw a bullpen session consisting of 30 pitches Sunday and said he "felt great."

Webb, who was scratched from his spring training debut on Saturday because of elbow stiffness, is on track to pitch Wednesday against the Mexican national team.

"I felt real good," he said, according to the Arizona Republic. "I felt great. Almost 100 percent, I'd say. I had no problems warming up. I threw every pitch, fastball, change-up, curveball."

EATON SIGNS MINOR LEAGUE DEAL (6:22 p.m. ET)
Adam Eaton and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a minor league contract Sunday and the right-hander will join the team's major league spring training camp.

The 31-year-old Eaton was released by Philadelphia on Friday after going 4-8 with a 5.80 ERA in 21 games for the Phillies last year. He is 68-63 with a 4.80 ERA in nine seasons with San Diego, Texas and Philadelphia.

The Orioles have three spots in their starting rotation up for grabs behind right-handers Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara. Left-hander Rich Hill, a starting candidate acquired in a February trade with the Chicago Cubs, was scratched from Sunday's scheduled start against Washington with left elbow soreness.

"It's an opportunity to add a veteran starter," said Andy MacPhail, Baltimore's president of baseball operations. "Last year, he had 19 starts, 10 of which were quality starts. It's something that's appealing to us. It represents a low-risk opportunity to have a veteran that we can evaluate to see if it makes sense to us going forward."

SCHMIDT STILL IN DODGERS MIX (5:05 p.m. ET)
The Dodgers are set with their first four starters -- Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw. Manager Joe Torre said Sunday that the first three pitchers are all candidates to start Opening Day against San Francisco.

The fifth starter spot remains wide open, with Jason Schmidt, Shawn Estes, Eric Milton, Claudio Vargas and young James McDonald in the mix.

Torre is encouraged with what he has seen thus far from Schmidt, who's undergone two shoulder surgeries and pitched a total of 25 2/3 innings in the first two years of a three-year, $47 million contract. Schmidt threw 21 pitches -- only 10 of them strikes -- in a "B'' game against the White Sox on Friday.

"If he goes out there and is able to take the ball on a regular basis, he'll win games,'' Torre said. "I think he's going to gain more arm strength. The best news for me is, he seems to be coming in the day after he throws feeling all right.''

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

BYRNES OUT UNTIL MID-MARCH (4:15 p.m. ET)
Arizona outfielder Eric Byrnes, returning from hamstring injuries, is being held out of spring training games because he can't run full speed on the base paths.

Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said he hopes Byrnes will be able to play in mid-March.

"The one thing he hasn't conquered yet is making the turn at second [base] when he's going from first to third," Melvin said before the Diamondbacks played Oakland on Sunday.

Melvin was optimistic that Byrnes will be ready for the season opener April 6.

"If he starts playing games [in mid-March], he's not questionable at all," Melvin said.

NATHAN TO SKIP WBC (2:43 p.m. ET)
Twins closer Joe Nathan, who has been experiencing discomfort with the AC joint of his right shoulder, said Sunday that he won't pitch in the World Baseball Classic.

"It wouldn't be fair for me to say I'm 100 percent and go play for Team USA when I'm not," Nathan said, according to MLB.com. "It wouldn't be fair for the Twins or Team USA. As hard as it is to have to watch this [event] and know I want to be there, at the same time I know this is the right decision to make sure I'm ready for April 6."

Nathan said he isn't worried.

"I'm not worried about it being a major concern," Nathan said, according to MLB.com. "I guess it's news because of the World Baseball Classic tournament going on and I'm not able to attend.

"If I went and played for Team USA, it's basically going to be getting after it every time I go out there. Staying here allows me to kind of get this thing calmed down and strengthened back up kind of at our pace."

RAYS EXPECT PENA BACK SOON (2:37 p.m. ET)
Rays slugger Carlos Pena might be back in Tampa Bay's lineup by the end of this week.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Sunday that the first baseman, who is recovering from minor offseason surgery to his abdominal muscles, might be in the Rays' lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

"Really, we'd like to get him in by Pittsburgh, if possible," Maddon said, according to MLB.com. "If not, it will be a little farther than that, but it could be by the time we got to Pittsburgh after the off-day.

"He's feeling good. If he starts playing around the sixth or the seventh [of March], that's almost a full camp. Or it is, based on what he normally does."

FUENTES TO SKIP FIRST ROUND OF WBC (2:30 p.m. ET)
Angels reliever Brian Fuentes will skip the early part of workouts and the opening round of the World Baseball Classic in Toronto, but he will join Team USA for the second round in Miami, assuming the Americans are still alive.

Fuentes, who has been dealing with what he described as "family issues," said his wife and four young children will be leaving Merced, Calif., and joining him in Arizona as he continues to settle in with his new team.

"This works out a lot better for me," Fuentes said. "I'm feeling a lot better about things. I'm going to join the [Classic] team in the second round. They'll have an open spot on the roster, and we're trying to make sure everything's good with the family.

"As of [Saturday], I wasn't going to do it [compete in the Classic] at all. But [Team USA officials] asked me I'd join them in Florida around the 14th [of March], and I said I could do that.

"I'll stay here in camp and throw, stay in shape, throw in [Cactus League] games. It will give me a chance to get to know the players and catchers a little better."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.