Pelfrey delivers  —  Phenom takes latest step to earning spot  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Mike Pelfrey intended to spend Monday's off-day in Key Largo, but unimpressed with the view, he continued to Key West.  "It didn't look very nice, so we just kept driving an extra 70, 80 miles, whatever," Pelfrey said.

Spring trade market hardly bustling … CLEARWATER, Fla. — Welcome to that time of year you've waited for all winter.  —  No, not the arrival of spring.  —  The arrival of the trade-rumor season.  —  Opening Day looms, right over the horizon.  Those 15 extra guys in uniform …

MLB to look into iN Demand's 'Extra Innings' offer  —  NEW YORK — Baseball's "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games might wind up staying on cable television.  —  IN Demand said Wednesday it will offer to match the terms of DirecTV's $700 million, seven-year deal with Major League Baseball …

Reds release RHP Paul Wilson  —  SARASOTA, FLORIDA (TICKER) — Attempting a comeback from rotator cuff surgery, righthander Paul Wilson was released by the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.  —  Wilson, 33, struggled in five spring training appearances, allowing 12 earned runs and 22 hits in 13 1/3 innings.

Baseball not just about haves and have-nots  —  Hope.  —  Not so long ago, commissioner Bud Selig dwelled on that word when talking about Major League Baseball's need for greater competitive balance.  —  Speaking for Kansas City, Cincinnati, and of course his beloved Milwaukee …

Yankees won't bid on A-Rod  —  Rodriguez as good as gone if he opts out of contract  —  Also in this column:  —  Alex Rodriguez will attract interest from at least a handful of teams if he opts out of his $252 million contract at the end of the season, with the Angels perhaps first in line.

Rotation insurance quite pleasing  —  Rookie Jimenez, Lawrence making good impressions  —  TUCSON - Brian Lawrence and Ubaldo Jimenez most likely will claim a spot in the Rockies rotation this season.  It just isn't likely to happen for either by Opening Day.

Cubs to start with Floyd on bench  —  While Achilles' heals, Murton will start year in left  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — Cliff Floyd will be coming off the bench to start the season, a move the Cubs hope will give him more time to heal his surgically repaired left Achilles'.

Reliever Shuey pushing on despite injury … PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. // Though conceding that he probably has no shot at making the team out of spring training, Orioles reliever Paul Shuey will keep pitching in 2007 for as long as his body allows.  —  Shuey, who sprained the plantaris tendon …

Hot A-Rod to Angels Trade Info  —  The LA Times and Riverside Press Enterprise are both reporting that Jered Weaver will start the season on the disabled list, but it will be a short stay.  —  Weaver is penciled in for his turn in the rotation on April 12.  His April 6th start will be taken by Dustin Moseley.

The NL Central with Unnamed Scout  —  Every baseball writer needs a good unnamed scout.  It's actually better to have several of them in the Rolodex.  This is because unnamed scouts are, more or less, the last honest people on earth.  Deep Throat from Watergate?  Unnamed scout.  —  Take Angel Berroa.

State of the Systems, NL Central  —  This year's State Of The Systems features some new categories, so before we get going, some of the sections require a little bit of explanation.  — 2007 Rookies: Simple enough—what first-year players will contribute in the big leagues this year.

The Riddle  —  With an array of pitches as sublime and mesmerizing as haiku, $100 million import Daisuke Matsuzaka could tip the American League balance of power to the Red Sox — and explode the old myths about pampering pitchers  —  The cherubic face of Daisuke Matsuzaka bears a mysterious contentment …

The spring competition goes on  —  WASHINGTON - Spring training is about competition for jobs.  That's especially true for us.  —  Whomever wins the starting positions for the Nationals at first base, left field, center field and in the rotation will face strong competition all season.