Tavarez: Ramírez a latecomer  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox pitcher Julian Tavarez said in a TV interview last night that Manny Ramírez will not report to camp until March 1 because his mother requires surgery for an undisclosed reason.  —  Tavarez, who is good friends …

Depth perception?  —  Cubs have more options for rotation, but is it a case of quantity over quality?  —  MESA, Ariz. — The buzzword is depth.  It's one of the most commonly used words around Fitch Park these days as the Cubs enter their first full week of spring training.

Belliard gets minor league deal from Nats  —  VIERA, Fla. — Second baseman Ronnie Belliard agreed to a non-guaranteed, minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on Sunday that will pay him $750,000 if he makes the team.  —  "We feel it gives us protection in the middle of the diamond …

Very few safe bets to start  —  Glavine, El Duque are 1-2 in the rotation, but rest is wide open  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — With so many questions about the Mets' starting rotation, let's start the discussion with what we do know.  Pedro Martinez will not be part of it until at least July.

Bullpen seeking old form  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The year 2004 keeps popping up in discussions about the 2007 Rangers bullpen.  —  Reliever Ron Mahay said Sunday that this Texas relief corps could be as good as the one he pitched for three years ago.  Closer Eric Gagné has a similar feeling …

Thumb's up for Lo Duca  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Paul Lo Duca took swings yesterday for the first time since he had surgery four months ago to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb and indicated he felt fine.  Lo Duca had been sidelined the previous two days with suspected food poisoning.

Everything all Wright with HoJo  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - David Wright still vividly recalls the message waiting for him when he turned on his cell phone after landing at LaGuardia Airport on July 21, 2004.  —  "Just go up there and break all my records," Howard Johnson had said on the recording.

REGGAETON FAN REYES RECORDS STUDIO TRACKS  —  At times in the latter part of last season, Jose Reyes would come to the plate at Shea with a song playing on the public address system.  —  A song he recorded.  —  Reyes, the Mets' magnificent All-Star shortstop, is a huge fan of reggaeton …

Turnbow seeks to regain form in 2007  —  Former closer will serve as Brewers' setup man to Cordero  —  PHOENIX — Trivia tidbit: Brewers reliever Derrick Turnbow's full name is Thomas Durwood Derrick Turnbow.  The first two names are in honor of his mother's father, and while he still signs …

Gonzalez ready to get started  —  JUPITER - Pitchers and catchers report.  —  That phrase is synonymous with hope and new beginnings.  Nobody knows that better than Fredi Gonzalez, who waited 43 years for Saturday to roll around.  —  ''No, I'm not antsy.

Cabrera gets best of Marlins in arbitration  —  JUPITER — All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera on Saturday hit the thrifty Marlins where it hurts them most - in the pocketbook.  —  Cabrera became the first player this year to win an arbitration hearing when he was awarded a $7.4 million salary instead …

Marlins 60 seconds with Taylor Tankersley  —  Q: What's the most interesting thing you did this off-season?  —  Tankersley: I shot a 13-point buck with a bow on my first shot.  —  Q: You what?  —  Tankersley: I've never been hunting.  'Fosty,' the bullpen coach (Steve Foster) gets me up to Wisconsin for a bow hunt.