Sources: Braves making late push for Griffey  —  That Ken Griffey Jr.-to-Seattle reunion isn't a foregone conclusion just yet.  —  Two baseball sources told ESPN.com on Saturday that the Atlanta Braves are making a late play for Griffey and have begun discussing money with his agent.

Locker awaits Manny at Dodgers camp  —  Slugger's free-agent limbo doesn't sour club's first workouts  —  PHOENIX — Manny Ramirez stands out, even in absentia.  —  There are 70 nameplates above lockers in the Dodgers' new clubhouse at Camelback Ranch-Glendale and one locker without a nameplate, in the corner next to Rafael Furcal.

Manuel speaks  —  Here's a summary of Jerry Manuel's introductory address:  —  * Manuel revealed that Livan Hernandez has signed with the Mets.  He's on a minor-league deal, with a base salary of $1 million if he makes the club.  —  * Luis Castillo may bat leadoff for the Mets.

Pads' Peavy happy after offseason of trade talk  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Surrounded by trade speculation much of the offseason, San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy was surprised to find himself addressing the San Diego media Saturday morning.  —  Speaking with reporters for the first time since …

Wrapping up Day 1 of camp  —  Now that the workout is over, here are a few notes and impressions:  —  · Hideki Matsui took batting practice for the first time since his knee surgery and looked good.  At one point he cracked three in a row into the right-field stands.

Mets add to crowded rotation competition, sign pitcher Livan Hernandez  —  Mets GM Omar Minaya said on Feb. 3 that there would be no more “big moves” prior to the Mets breaking camp in Port St. Lucie this week, but he didn't say anything about making another call to arms.

The No-Stats All-Star  —  Out of Duke University. . . . A 6-foot-8-inch forward. . . .  He had more or less admitted to me that this part of his job left him cold.  'It's the same thing every day,' he said, as he struggled to explain how a man on the receiving end of the raging love …

Cheaters take the joy out of baseball  —  The date was April 14, 1936, and it is etched in my memory.  —  “Baseball season starts today,” the father said to the son, exercising a precious part of Americana.  —  This is the rite of passage from father to son, or daughter …

Phillies' Romero: Drug hotline not well-known  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Suspended Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.C. Romero said Saturday that he wasn't aware of baseball's toll-free drug hotline until after he'd already tested positive for a banned substance contained in an over-the-counter supplement.

A calm first day; the latest on Crede; Lewis needs a new pair of shoes  —  If it were any calmer here in Scottsdale on Saturday, a hurricane would be approaching.  —  Of course, the storms weren't far away.  As colleague Henry Schulman pointed out, Bruce Bochy could've been asked an hour's worth …

Tek: ‘Happy and confident’  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox captain Jason Varitek said he was happy to be back and confident he could turn his career around after a long and arduous offseason filled with doubt and angst on whether he'd return as the Red Sox' starting catcher.

Melancon eyes bigs  —  When Mark Melancon took his place in major league spring training a year ago, he knew the New York Yankees were doing him a favor.  —  Twenty-two years old, coming off significant elbow surgery, with a professional resume that spanned only seven games in short season Staten Island …