The Izzynator Cometh?  —  JUPITER, FLA — While the Cardinals play down its potential, free agent closer Jason Isringhausen insists he remains interested in returning to the club as a non-roster invite this spring.  —  On his way back to his Tampa home after a weekend spectating at the Daytona 500 …

Today's the day for Griffey decision  —  Atlanta offers Junior a job closer to home and family in Florida  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — The Mariners and the Atlanta Braves have extended contract offers to former Mariners All-Star outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. for the 2009 season.

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.

Santana delay a schedule issue  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Johan Santana's first Grapefruit League start will wait until March3 against the Cardinals, nearly a week into the Mets' spring schedule.  —  Pitching coach Dan Warthen said the delay isn't related to Santana's return from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

YES Pulls the Plug, Temporarily, on a Yankees Star  —  When Alex Rodriguez faces the news media Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., he will endure a barrage of questions, many of them ones that ESPN's Peter Gammons did not ask about A-Rod's 2003 positive steroid test that was first revealed by Sports Illustrated.

Chemistry a top priority for Mariners  —  Wakamatsu determined to have roster of ‘team’ players  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — It is difficult enough to take over a team that lost more than 100 games the previous year, but perhaps the biggest challenge facing Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu this season …

Pirates, McLouth reach long-term deal  —  In a sharp reversal, the Pirates and center fielder Nate McLouth this morning agreed to terms on a three-year contract — plus a club option for a fourth — that avoided an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for this afternoon in Phoenix.

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 …

At long last, Fields signs with Mariners  —  Early Monday afternoon, Josh Fields stood in the parking lot outside Seattle's Peoria Stadium clubhouse, meeting with Mariner general manager Jack Zduriencik and assistant GM Lee Pelekoudas.  —  It looked like a deal had been done …

Acquired in J. J. Putz Trade, Sean Green Also Seen as Valuable to Mets  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — On the evening of Dec. 10, the news filtered into the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, around its gaming tables and through its long and wide corridors until baseball people everywhere …

D-backs could sign, trade Cruz  —  But reliever would need to reach deal with another team first  —  TUCSON — It appears the Juan Cruz free-agent saga could get even more complicated for the D-backs.  —  General manager Josh Byrnes said on Monday that it is possible that the right-handed reliever …

Bud Selig to baseball fans: Don't blame me  —  In a lengthy telephone interview Monday, the commissioner of baseball strongly disputed the widely held perception that he was in any way complicit in the proliferation of steroids in major-league baseball during the past 15 years.

Izzo's testimony ties him to drugs  —  Patriot was supplied by Bonds's trainer  —  After years of downplaying his role in the steroids scandal, Patriots special teams captain Larry Izzo is prepared to testify at Barry Bonds's criminal trial that Bonds's personal trainer, Greg Anderson …