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 …

Big Unit says he still has the stuff to dominate  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Randy Johnson made the familiar trek down Interstate 10 from his Paradise Valley home and found his name on the same spring training locker he occupied during the best seasons of his extraordinary career.

Koskie yet to heal from concussion  —  Third baseman will miss spring training  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  Phoenix - After weeks of uncertainty, the Milwaukee Brewers now know that third baseman Corey Koskie will not be physically ready to take part in spring training …

Britton eager for a chance  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Chris Britton did not get above Class A ball in his first five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.  But with the team desperate for relief help last season, he was summoned to the majors on April 12.  —  Britton was one of the best rookie pitchers …

Fresh start for Milledge?  —  For the record, Lastings Milledge did show up early — position players were only required to let the Mets know they were in the neighborhood yesterday — and he did more than drop off equipment.  Milledge worked out with the handful of players already in camp …

A-Rod says he's not as close with Jeter as he was  —  TAMPA, Fla. — On the first day of his fourth season with the New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez finally acknowledged his relationship with Derek Jeter has cooled.  —  After insisting for three years that they remained close, Rodriguez said it was …

Mets sign catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to a Minor League contract  —  The New York Mets today signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.  He is expected to join the team and be in uniform on Tuesday.  —  Alomar, 40, appeared in 27 games …

Around the Grapefruit League  —  New York Mets: Carlos Beltran wants to be on the run a lot more this season for the Mets.  —  Two years removed from stealing 42 bases, the All-Star outfielder intends to be more of a base-stealing threat after swiping just 18 a year ago.

Fans to pick all-time Gold Glove team  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brooks Robinson has made just one concession to age.  At the Orioles' fantasy camps these days, he plays first base so he doesn't have to bounce any throws across the diamond.  —  During his playing days, the Human Vacuum Cleaner …

Pirates Notebook: Chacon has arthritis in knee  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Shawn Chacon freely allows that he will have to pitch through some pain in 2007.  —  Chacon, one of four starters vying for the lone vacancy in the rotation …

Mariners Notebook: Beltre looks bigger, but is he?  —  Third baseman says he's in shape for a fast start  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — To look at Adrian Beltre, you'd think he'd muscled up during the offseason.  —  His forearms are bigger.  His biceps are bigger.

Redemption of the slugger  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - A fair amount of time has passed since an athlete has stood above his sport like Ryan Howard, possessing power and quickness and breadth, and been granted the virtuous path.  —  Certainly it is so in baseball, where the protagonists …

Around the Cactus League  —  Chicago Cubs: The Cubs will have a short list of position players checking in on Monday.  Most of them are already in camp and working out.  —  Buoyed by an offseason spending spree, the Cubs say there's a new feeling around the team this year.

Zambrano: Chance of agreement with Cubs '85 percent'  —  MESA, Ariz. — Carlos Zambrano said Monday he was "85 percent" sure he'd come to an agreement with the Cubs on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration.  —  "You'll see the news [Tuesday] morning, hopefully," Zambrano told reporters after Monday's workout at Fitch Park.

Expectations Have Come Up Short  —  Nationals' Guzman Looks to Revive His Career Following Shoulder Surgery  —  In some ways, the season Cristian Guzman endured in 2006 was as bad as a player could have, sitting at home idly watching television while his teammates played major league baseball.