Griffey says yes to Mariners  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Just over nine years to the day after he left, Ken Griffey Jr. is back with the Seattle Mariners.  —  The Seattle Post-Intelligencer learned Tuesday that Griffey turned his back on a flirtation with the Atlanta Braves Wednesday and opted …

Stan Kasten and the Player to Be Named Later  —  Stan Kasten just completed his conference call with reporters about the Esmailyn “Smiley” Gonzalez mess.  With about a dozen reporters crammed into a small office on the third floor of Space Coast Stadium, and with a few others on the line …

Jeter Declares His Independence From the Steroids Era  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Derek Jeter subtly expressed his support for Alex Rodriguez on Wednesday as Rodriguez grapples with possible repercussions from admitting to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.  But Jeter was much more forceful …

Last Section of Shea Stadium Is Torn Down  —  Shea Stadium, the site of the Mets' two World Series victories, their many seasons of futility and a few historic concerts, met the fate of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds on Wednesday morning.  At 11:21 a.m., a demolition crew pulled down the final section …

Red Sox owner renews plea for MLB salary cap … FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is renewing his call for a baseball salary cap.  —  He says he thinks all owners would support an “enlightened” salary cap to improve competitive balance and that players might agree.

Aybar deal done, could be worth $4.525 M  —  The Rays officially announced the signing of INF Willy Aybar to a two-year deal with a 2011 option that could be worth $4.525 million.  —  “We've had the chance over the last year to really get to know Willy and we feel he brings a lot of our club,” executive VP Andrew Friedman said.

Bourn turns over new leaf in 2009  —  Speedster more comfortable, set to raise walks, lower K's  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla — Michael Bourn doesn't plan to dwell on anything that happened during the 2008 season, and to prove that he's truly wiped the slate clean, he began Spring Training this year …

Roberts deal just about done  —  There's more to do than just cross the T's and dot the I's, but the Orioles are close to reaching an agreement on a contract extension with Brian Roberts that has been confirmed at four years and $40 million.  —  Two open issues need to be addressed …

Andruw Jones hopes to revive career with Texas Rangers  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The drive from Duluth, Ga., to the Surprise Recreation Campus stretches nearly 2,000 miles and takes the average motorists a few days to complete.  —  Andruw Jones made the trek earlier this week …

LIFE OF REILLY  —  It's time to right some wrongs, one MVP at a time.  —  John Grieshop/Getty Images  —  It's been tougher than a $4.99 steak.  Got chased by Dobermans eight times.  Had to hire five different sticky-fingered third-graders.  Broke into the wrong house twice.  —  But it's finally done.

Joe Posnanski: Silence proved golden for this steroid star … You probably remember that exchange.  It occurred on March 17, 2005, and the Committee on Government Reform held a hearing with the understated name: “Restoring Faith in America's Pastime.”  The idea, as everyone understood it …

PECOTA Hitters are here  —  The PECOTA Hitter cards for 2009 have been published, with pitchers coming along soon.  —  We've added the player comments from Baseball Prospectus 2008 (whose younger sibling, Baseball Prospectus 2009, is now shipping) and re-instated the hitter comparables to the hitter cards.