Zambrano says he'll walk if Cubs don't sign him  —  Carlos Zambrano has issued an ultimatum to the Chicago Cubs — sign me now, or say goodbye when the 2007 season is over.  —  "Whatever happens, I don't want to know [anything] about a contract during the season.

No Williams now, maybe no Mo next year  —  TAMPA, Florida (AP) - As the New York Yankees prepared to start spring training without Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera talked about the possibility of not being with the team a year from now.  —  Rivera will get $10.5 million this season …

Brewers preseason preview  —  Key additions, healed injuries will make Milwaukee dangerous  —  In the wide open world of the National League Central, the Milwaukee Brewers and their fans should have every reason to believe that their team is capable of staying in contention for the long haul.

Lester: From patient to eager  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Maybe it's just part of the code of the so-called man-cave, which, after all, is what a baseball clubhouse really is.  Or maybe it's because they're in a business where tough breaks come with the territory; the guy sitting beside …

Villone signs with Yankees  —  Veteran left-hander agrees to minor-league deal  —  Ron Villone has agreed to a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees.  —  He stands to make $2.5 million if he makes the club, which is likely, and an additional $300,000 in incentives based on games pitched.

GREEN: I'M NOT RETIRING  —  Although a report said Shawn Green is considering hanging up his spikes after this season, the Mets right fielder said yesterday he anticipates playing in 2008.  —  "There's been no decision on the future at all as far as I'm concerned," the 34-year-old Green told The Post yesterday by phone.

Union makes appeal  —  With almost no options left, the Major League Baseball Players Association filed a last-ditch request last night to keep the names of 104 steroid cheats out of the clutches of a grand jury.  —  The MLBPA asked a federal appeals court in San Francisco to revisit …

Padres to give Marine spring tryout  —  The Padres' ongoing search for baseball talent recently found an unusual source: the United States Marine Corps.  The Padres are enlisting Cooper Brannan, a Marine corporal whose service includes two tours of duty in Iraq.

From Pearl Lagoon to the Back Bay … The Nicaraguan pitcher with a Jamaican inflection and British surname sat in his airy Toronto five-star hotel room this past September, took a deep breath and looked down at his dark, flexed forearms.  —  "A Pearl Lagoon boy is here," Red Sox pitcher Devern Hansack said.

Marlins win Gregg arbitration case  —  Reliever will get shot at closing; Cabrera hearing set for Friday  —  MIAMI — Before three arbitrators on Monday in Arizona, Marlins reliever Kevin Gregg made his pitch for a $125,000 bump in salary.  —  The panel rejected that argument on Tuesday morning.

Tall expectations for Hirsh  —  6-foot-8 Jason Hirsh aims to win over fans, corral big awards  —  Jason Hirsh knows the concerns of Rockies fans.  —  And he wants to assure them they can relax.  —  He knows Jason Jennings is with the Houston Astros.  —  But the Rockies did OK in that deal …

In Rebuilding Game, Nats Lead the Braves  —  Many think that Stan Kasten is crazy or blowing smoke when he claims that his team is "way ahead" of the Braves franchise he rebuilt in the late '80s and transformed into a dynasty.  I've been hard on the Nats president for the decision to field …

Unanswered questions  —  They have spent the last four months defending their grand plan to rebuild themselves into a championship-caliber franchise, determined not to deviate from their charted course while trying to convince the general public to climb aboard and enjoy the ride.

Dice-K's on easy street: Sox do anything, everything for pitcher  —  Larry Lucchino was sitting on the floor, dressed in stocking feet and a lavender kimono, when he made the stunning announcement to the 7,627 members of the international media who gathered yesterday at Fenway Park [map].

Winners and losers for baseball's off-season  —  Spring training is the time for teams to assess their fancy new ensembles.  Some clubs will relish their fresh looks.  Others quickly will grow wary of what they see.  —  Practically all of the money is spent now, well past $1 billion all told.

Molina throws curve to Wainwright, keeps memento  —  JUPITER, FLA. — During the celebration of the Cardinals' World Series victory, rookie pitcher Adam Wainwright bargained with catcher Yadier Molina for a title memento.  —  Wainwright believed they had a deal.