Griffey meets with Wren  —  What was shaping up as a rather ordinary Spring Training Monday at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex turned into a rather interesting one when some guy named Ken Griffey Jr. arrived to meet with Braves general manager Frank Wren.

Holdout Perez regrets accepting Nationals' offer  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Odalis Perez wasn't in the group of pitchers and catchers who, in the last three days, reported to the Washington Nationals' spring training camp in Viera, Fla., and there is no known date for the arrival of the Dominican left-hander.

Believe it not, this is about JUAN CRUZ  —  I touched on this in my story for Monday's ink-on-paper editions.  —  A new wrinkle has come up that could make it easier for the Twins acquire someone like righthander Juan Cruz, who's considered one of the best set up men of the free agent class …

Yankees Lining Up to Attend Rodriguez News Conference  —  TAMPA, Fla. — There is no sign-up sheet for the post-practice field trip at Yankees' camp on Tuesday, but there might as well be.  When Alex Rodriguez addresses the news media under a tent down the third-base line at Steinbrenner Field, several teammates will be watching.

Manuel's unusual hitting drill hands-on  —  Manager believs tool will help Mets combat fatigue at the plate  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Some degree of any big league training camp is about conditioning, of course.  Pitchers run sprints and “poles” — foul pole to foul pole — and throw, and everyone builds stamina.

Deep thoughts from Ortiz  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz has something to say — and perhaps even something to prove — to the naysayers who thought his career was on the downside after an injury-filled 2008 campaign.  —  “Sometimes I hear some comments and they do nothing but make me stronger …

Ohman has offers from Bucs, Marlins, Padres  —  Will Ohman, one of the top relievers left on baseball's free agent market, has major league offers in hand from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins and San Diego Padres, but plans to continue discussions with three contending teams before making …

Ludwick, Cardinals agree to 1-year, $3.7M deal  —  ST. LOUIS — Ryan Ludwick and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $3.7 million, one-year contract and avoided an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday.  —  Ludwick  —  The outfielder had asked for $4.25 million …

First-round pick Fields signs  —  Three days after reaching an agreement, the Mariners and first-round Draft pick Josh Fields made it official on Monday, putting the final touches on a contract.  —  His signature on a contract came more than nine months after Seattle selected the former University …

Due to insurance issues, Pujols to skip WBC  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols says he will not play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic because of insurance issues.  —  Pujols, who hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs for the Cardinals …

PECOTA sure to stir annual debate  —  Named for former infielder, system projects many of season's results  —  When Nate Silver devised the unique PECOTA rating system for Baseball Prospectus, he had a light-hitting Kansas City Royals infielder in mind.  —  And when that infielder …

Brewers monitoring Cordero  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Phoenix - General manager Doug Melvin's special scouting assistant, Dick Groch, will be on hand Wednesday in California for the next throwing session by Chad Cordero.  The former Washington closer is coming …

Putz: Lack of ‘team guys’ added to M's '08 woes  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Don Wakamatsu took the job as manager of the Seattle Mariners knowing he'd have to start his turnaround of the 101-loss team in the clubhouse, where bickering and jealousy plagued the squad last season.  —  “I did my homework.

No interest in Pudge  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Despite what Pudge Rodriguez keeps saying, the Mets aren't interested in the veteran catcher and aren't talking to him about a contract.  A high-ranking team source said there has been no discussion about Rodriguez in recent weeks …

Ethier, Dodgers reach eve of hearing  —  Talks continue with arbitration panel convening Tuesday  —  PHOENIX — The Dodgers and outfielder Andre Ethier were in final preparations on Monday for a salary-arbitration hearing scheduled for Tuesday.  —  Ethier, who received $424,500 last year without …

Orioles' Hill ready to prove doubters wrong  —  Former Cubs left-hander says he's healthy, wants to earn spot in rotation  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - All Rick Kranitz needed to see was three pitches from Rich Hill before he picked up the bullpen phone to call Chicago Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild.