Aaron wants to start over  —  Not happy with pen role  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Yes, Aaron Heilman asked again.  No, he's not going to get a look as a starting pitcher this spring.  —  "I haven't given up," Heilman said yesterday, a day after arriving from his home in Chicago.

Nats agree to minor league deal with Young  —  VIERA, Fla. — Former All-Star Dmitri Young agreed to a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, getting another chance after the Detroit Tigers cut him last year following legal and substance-abuse problems.

Hendry: Zambrano deal will take time  —  MESA, Ariz. — Carlos Zambrano isn't expected at camp until Thursday, when Cubs general manager Jim Hendry expects him to clarify his statement on leaving after the season if he doesn't get a new contract by Opening Day.

Spring Training: Japanese pitcher steals spotlight  —  Followed by large media contingent, Kuwata aims high with Pirates  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  On this, the day the Pirates' pitchers and catchers report for work in Bradenton, Fla., no fewer than a dozen cameras …

Iannetta counts more than blessings  —  Catcher figures he has better shot at Opening Day roster  —  Catcher Chris Iannetta was a math major in college, so it's no surprise he's analytical.  He asks a lot of questions, readily applies new knowledge and has no illusions while viewing his nascent career amid the Rockies' big picture.

Benitez feels healthier than previous two springs  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -Armando Benitez expects nothing less than to be San Francisco's closer this season - as long as he's healthy.  —  The Giants want to evaluate him this spring before handing him back his old job.

Best Outfield Arms of 2006  —  It was the last day of 2006 and I was getting ready for a little New Year's Eve get-together.  While I was blowing up some balloons, I saw a new message in my inbox, and after a click I realized that I had just received a late Christmas gift …

Rivera says he'll consider offers from other teams  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Mariano Rivera had this warning for the New York Yankees: If he becomes a free agent, he'll consider offers from other teams.  —  "Everybody has the same shot," he said Wednesday.  "The Yankees will not have an advantage."

Pittsburgh Pirates Roundtable #15  —  On Monday, you read what our regulars had to say.  Now, you get to hear from the enemy: Enjoy the contrasting opinions that these big timers provide, and feel free to rip each other apart in the comments.  Nothing like a good division rivalry, eh?  —  Question:

Determined Vargas Vies for Mets' Rotation  —  Five-year-old Jason Vargas scampered around the batting cage, helping some of the Victor Valley High players retrieve balls, when he reached a milestone in his development.  Vargas did not notice a pitch hurtling toward the plate when he trotted out to grab a stray ball.

Wrigley to feature Under Armour ads  —  Signs will be first allowed on stadium's outfield doors  —  MESA, Ariz. — The green doors tucked into the ivy in the left- and right-field bleachers of Wrigley Field will be decorated with 7-by-12 foot advertisements, touting Under Armour's signature logo.

Hansen getting closer  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — When Craig Hansen opened the message from his brother and found a link to a website, he was puzzled by what popped up on the screen: a house in Colorado, and the fact that it was for sale.  —  Huh?  For the reliever, who stays away from television and newspapers, it was a mystery.

Everything I Know About Baseball I Learned From Strat-O-Matic  —  All right, so that title there is a modest exaggeration.  Truth be told, my first introduction to baseball came in my eighth summer, when a Rodent Napoleon named Don Zimmer mismanaged the '78 Red Sox into infamy.