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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.