Griffey picks Braves over Mariners  —  Negotiations still on-going, both sides working to finalize deal  —  Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Ken Griffey Jr. has chosen to sign with the Braves, according to a person close to the veteran star and familiar with the on-going negotiations.

A-Rod answers questions, raises more … TAMPA, Fla. — His friends told him the truth would set him free.  But is that what Alex Rodriguez told Tuesday?  —  The truth?  The whole truth?  And nothing but the truth?  —  Ehhhhh ... it didn't feel that way.

Brewers sign Gagne to Minors deal  —  Reliever can become free agent if he doesn't make 40-man roster  —  PHOENIX — Exactly one year to the date he arrived at Maryvale Baseball Park with a $10 million contract in tow, Eric Gagne will report Wednesday as a Minor Leaguer pitching for a job.

D-backs, Jackson avoid arbitration  —  Outfielder signs one-year deal a day before scheduled hearing  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — The D-backs signed outfielder Conor Jackson to a one-year contract on Tuesday, one day before the two sides were scheduled for a salary-arbitration hearing.

Brewers, Hart avoid arbitration  —  Right fielder agrees to one-year, $3.25 million deal on eve of hearing  —  PHOENIX — It wasn't exactly the 11th hour, but it was getting pretty late for the Brewers and right fielder Corey Hart when they finally struck a deal.

Brad Penny's escape from L.A.  —  Buzz up!  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Though he loved Los Angeles and in its place was subject to the softest free-agent market in years, Brad Penny is happy to be free of the Dodgers.  —  And though they were left to rebuild a pitching staff that could use another power arm …

Miguel Tejada apologizes to Houston Astros for use of PEDs  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — While Alex Rodriguez was addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs in front of a national media contingent Tuesday, Miguel Tejada made a quiet apology to his teammates at the Houston Astros' training camp.

A-Rod live blog  —  Our man Nick Cafardo is in Tampa to document today's highly anticipated Alex Rodriguez press conference, and following the controversial Yankees superstar's first formal chat with the media since he admitted using performance-enhancing substances, he will file a full report right here on Extra Bases.

Tampa Bay Rays' Scott Kazmir won't pitch in World Baseball Classic  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Scott Kazmir will not pitch for the United States in next month's World Baseball Classic because the Tampa Bay Rays were concerned about the risk of injury to the All-Star left-hander.  —  Kazmir

Rays add 2B Adam Kennedy to spring roster  —  2B Adam Kennedy was added to the Rays spring roster on a minor-league contract.  —  Kennedy, 33, was released last week by the Cardinals, for whom he hit .280 in 115 games last season following a horrible .217 in 87 games the year before.

Manuel's unusual hitting drill hands-on  —  Manager believes 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.