Nats sign Belliard to Minor League deal  —  Infielder hit .272 with 13 home runs and 67 RBIs in 2006  —  VIERA, Fla. — Looking to strengthen their bench, protect themselves in case of an injury to starting shortstop Cristian Guzman and help themselves for the trade deadline …

Catcher Laird critical to Rangers  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The past three years, catcher Gerald Laird arrived at Rangers training camp with one question: "How can I make this team?"  —  This year, the question is slightly different: "How can I make this team better?"

Baseball season means a trip to wondering land with Manny  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The first official workout for Red Sox pitchers and catchers is today.  Position players are scheduled to "report" Tuesday, and their first workout is supposed to be Thursday at the minor league complex …

Bedard glad he avoided arbitration  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. // Had the Orioles not agreed to a one-year deal with pitcher Erik Bedard yesterday, the process would have played out Tuesday in a hotel conference room in Phoenix.  At the head of a long table, three arbitrators would have been seated …

At Mets' Camp, Pitchers Need Never Be Lonely  —  The pitchers' meeting was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp, and Aaron Sele was sitting at his locker at 8:28, trying to figure out where to go.  He turned to reliever Jon Adkins and, revealing the wisdom of a 14-year veteran, said, "Just follow the herd, I guess."

WHITE SOX  —  Erstad fits into Sox's big picture  —  TUCSON, Ariz. - Darin Erstad and the White Sox.  Now there's a match made in OzzieBall heaven.  —  He'd run over your mother to catch a flyball, and he just might run over his own mother if she tried to block home plate.

At threshold of Hall  —  Schilling no lock, but he's very close  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — When a Boston radio talk show last month floated the idea of Curt Schilling running for a US Senate seat against incumbent John Kerry, the idea evoked only mild interest from the Red Sox pitcher …

Long road back  —  Humber comeback from arm surgery hits overdrive  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - A two-strike curveball, the same caliber of pitch that Cardinals closer Adam Wainwright would snap off 19 months later to end last October's NLCS, buckled Miguel Cairo's knees in the batter's box.

Payroll total takes $5 million hit  —  Decision by reliever Foulke to retire leaves Tribe with unimpressive salary figure for upcoming season  —  WINTER HAVEN, FLA. - Keith Foulke's retirement points to a continuing image problem for the Indians.  —  By quitting baseball rather than accepting …

Notes: Matsuzaka slated for debut  —  Right-hander to face Boston College in split-squad game  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — In a Spring Training debut unlike any other in club history, Daisuke Matsuzaka threw off a mound for the first time in a Red Sox uniform Sunday.

On the clock  —  For Yost, higher payroll and expectations will mean more pressure  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  Phoenix - Ned Yost is an energetic, ultra-optimistic type by nature who brings a passion to his job that is refreshing in the often jaded world of professional sports.

Butcher: No regrets on move here, back  —  ST. PETERSBURG - Sitting in Tempe, Ariz., on Saturday, Mike Butcher felt like he was home.  —  Butcher returned this spring to the Angels, taking over as pitching coach after Bud Black left to manage the Padres.  Butcher spent only one year with the Rays …

Notes: Buchholz knows it's his time  —  Right-hander out of options, ready to produce for Rockies  —  TUCSON — It's not fair to say right-handed pitcher Taylor Buchholz is the forgotten player the Rockies received when they traded pitcher Jason Jennings to the Astros.

Can Washburn let old acquaintance be forgot?  —  He's a teammate again with old foe Guillen  —  The thing about being a player in this era of rampant free agency is, sooner or later, you'll wind up on a team with an old friend.  Or enemy.  —  Among those greeting newcomer Jose Guillen …