Sources: Mariners pushing Griffey talks  —  The Seattle Mariners have stepped up the pace in negotiations that could bring Ken Griffey Jr. back to the city where he spent the first 11 years of his major league career, two baseball sources told ESPN.com.  —  Although it's unclear whether …

Brewers ready to solve camp questions  —  Who'll play third base remains uncertain entering Spring Training  —  Triple play: Three questions that need answers  —  1. Is the starting rotation deep enough?  —  The pending Braden Looper deal might help change the answer to this question to the affirmative.

A-Rod mess gets Selig pumped up  —  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig came out roaring Wednesday, putting Alex Rodriguez on notice that the Yankee third baseman's admitted performance-enhancing drug use may not go unpunished.  —  In an interview with USA Today, Selig was asked …

Nationals sign Dunn to two-year deal  —  Veteran left-handed slugger reunited with GM Bowden  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals finally got their left-handed slugging first baseman, signing free agent Adam Dunn to a two-year contract Wednesday, according to a baseball source.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Tejada apologizes after guilty plea  —  Shortstop charged with misrepresentations, admits buying drugs  —  HOUSTON — A tearful and seemingly contrite Miguel Tejada offered an apology to a packed room of reporters at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, expressing remorse for his actions that led …

Juice has sucked fun out of voting  —  Cover major league baseball on a daily basis for a newspaper for 10 consecutive years and you get to vote on Hall of Fame candidates.  Forever.  —  It is one of the great privileges of being a baseball writer.  It's a responsibility most of us take seriously.

Early arrival Schneider wants to play every day  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Brian Schneider knew his first season in New York might be difficult, but he never could have predicted spending a week in the hospital with a staph infection.  Or even getting stuck in a platoon with Ramon Castro.

Who's ‘This Lady’?  Meet Selena Roberts, A-Rod's Worst Nightmare  —  When Sports Illustrated put one of its usual big features in the hands of a serious reporter, serious news started happening  —  Selena Roberts.  —  “This lady is coming out with all these allegations, all these lies …

Three more pitchers invited to camp  —  Righties Cox, Kontos, Texeira will report to Tampa on Friday  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees announced invitations to big league camp on Wednesday for three additional right-handed pitchers, increasing the total number of players scheduled to report to 63.

Montero is Posada's heir apparent  —  Call it a “blog bonus.”  Here is a story that would've run in Sunday's Daily News if not for a certain player's steroid mess.  This is for you readers who are fascinated by prospects...  TAMPA - On one field at the Yankees' minor-league complex …

Joba says A-Rod will thrive despite scandal  —  TAMPA - Joba Chamberlain had his own difficult off-season and the Yankee pitcher, who was nabbed for DUI in his native Nebraska, believes Alex Rodriguez's public confession this week will be cathartic for the third baseman.

BABIP: Progressing and Regressing Groundball Out Rates  —  A couple of weeks ago, Rich Lederer asked what variables account for extraordinarily low groundball out rates.  So, using a similar method to that which Peter Bendix and Chris Dutton used to find expected BABIP …

Did steroids help Alex Rodriguez?  —  Did the confession to the use of steroids, made by Alex Rodriguez, invalidate his purported outstanding performances from 2001 to 2003?  The myth of “performance enhancement” by the use of steroids needs to be exploded.  —  (1) There is no scientific definition for “performance enhancement” and

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon proposes amnesty for those who tested positive for steroids and stronger penalties for future violators  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — Acknowledging that with Alex Rodriguez involved in baseball's steroids mess there is nothing left to be surprised or shocked about …

Johnson not interested in bench role  —  Nats likely will look to trade first baseman after landing Dunn  —  WASHINGTON — With Adam Dunn slated to become the Nationals' everyday first baseman, what does this mean for the Nick Johnson?  The team will most likely look to trade Johnson, who said he will not accept a bench role.

Mariners: Ichiro won't be pitching  —  Outfielder worked off mound for possible Classic outing  —  Now pitching for Team Japan, Ichiro Suzuki?  —  Not so fast.  —  Soon after news — and photos — broke of Suzuki's bullpen session in preparation for a possible mound stint …