Houston Astros: Jeff Kent's much-anticipated debut with Houston was put off Wednesday because he didn't feel well.

Kent made a brief appearance at camp in Kissimmee, Fla., early in the morning, but was sent home. He didn't take part in the first full-squad workout of spring training.

The power-hitting second baseman signed an $18.2 million, two-year contract with the Astros after helping lead the San Francisco Giants to the World Series.

Kent, 34, won the NL MVP award two years ago and hit .313 last season with 37 homers and 108 RBIs as San Francisco won its first pennant since 1989. He joins Lance Berkman and Jeff Bagwell to give the Astros a formidable middle of the lineup.

Biggio on 'center' stage: Former Houston second baseman Craig Biggio opened Astros training camp Wednesday ready to take over center field.

The four-time Gold Glove second baseman is permanently switching from second base to center field to make way for Kent.

"It's another challenge and challenges are exciting,'' Biggio said. "This is going to make us a better team, and if it makes us a better team and gets us to the playoffs or further, then that's what it's all about.''

Biggio, 36, switched to second base from catcher 12 years ago, and started in left field last September against the Milwaukee Brewers. He said he's keeping his latest move in perspective.

"The move from catcher to second base, I don't think anybody will understand how hard that was. That was major. (The current move to the outfield) is drastic, but not as drastic as that move was,'' he said.

First baseman Jeff Bagwell, now in his 12th season with Houston, said it will be odd to see a new face at second base.

"When you play next to somebody for 11 years, I knew where Craig was at all times. He knew my abilities,'' Bagwell said.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Darren Dreifort took another step in his comeback from knee and elbow surgery Wednesday by throwing breaking balls for the first time this spring during a round of batting practice.

Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said Dreifort mixed in a few breaking balls in a 30-pitch performance that mainly included fastballs and changeups.

"It's always a little bit different the first time you go up there with guys in the batter's box, especially when it's guys on your own team,'' Dreifort said. "But everything felt fine.''

The 30-year-old right-hander has pitched only half a season since signing a five-year, $55 million contract in December 2000. He was 4-7 with a 5.13 ERA before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in July 2001.

He missed the entire 2002 season, injuring his right knee while rehabilitating from the elbow injury. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to clean out loose cartilage last July.

New York Mets: Outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo returned to the Mets in style.

Making a spring training entrance befitting a rock star, Shinjo stepped out of a stretch limousine Tuesday dressed in denim jeans and a denim jacket with the collar turned up. In his right hand, he carried a bat bag that some observers likened to a guitar case.

"I feel really good to be back because this is the first place I came when I started playing major league baseball," Shinjo said through an interpreter. "I was really shocked when I got traded from the Mets because I loved the Mets."

Shinjo left Japan and signed with the Mets on Dec. 11, 2000. He hit .268 for New York, becoming a fan favorite with his hustle and flashy defense.

He was traded to San Francisco last offseason and became the first Japanese player to appear in the World Series. As a free agent in January, he signed a one-year deal with the Mets.

Shinjo hit .238 for the Giants last season, hitting nine home runs with 37 RBI. "I'm not really satisfied with the way I played last year, but it's over and I tried to forget it," Shinjo said. "I will do my best this season."

New York Yankees: Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui and Cuban pitcher Jose Contreras have a lot in common.

They are known internationally and have excellent work ethics. Both signed lucrative contracts with the Yankees during the offseason and are at major league spring training for the first time.

But when it comes to media coverage and fan interest, the gap is as large as the distance between Cuba and Japan.

About 1,000 fans and 100 reporters watched Matsui take batting practice Wednesday at Legends Field in Tampa, Fla. At the same time, manager Joe Torre was almost alone as Contreras threw to hitters on a back field.

"People are more interested in hitting than pitching, no question,'' Torre said. "Of course, managers are always interested in pitching and not hitting -- until it comes to the bottom of the ninth inning and you need a couple runs.''

Contreras has experienced the incredible interest of baseball in Japan as a member of Cuba's national team.

"I knew there would be a lot of press, but I never imagined there would be this many,'' Contreras said through an interpreter. ``On other occasions I got to interact with the Japanese press. The Cuban national team goes to Japan every year. I knew a lot of them would be here. They are very respectful and understanding. I enjoy interacting with them."

No lineup tinkering: Torre doesn't plan to move Alfonso Soriano from the top of his batting order.

Soriano hit .300 with 39 homers, 41 steals and 102 RBI last year in his second full major league season.

"Just thinking about this right now, you look at him or (Derek) Jeter as a leadoff hitter,'' Torre said. "I don't anticipate any change. It doesn't mean we won't. But that's not one of my projects going in.''

Soriano likes hitting first. He had eight leadoff homers last season, one shy of the team record set by Rickey Henderson in 1986.

"When I walk through the street, the people forgot about 40-40 or 30-30. They said 50-50,'' Soriano said, laughing. "I don't think about offensive numbers. The only thing I think now is about strike outs and my defense at second base. That's what I'm working on in spring training.''

Soriano struck out 157 times and committed 23 errors. He would like to cut those totals down to 130 strikeouts and no more than 15 errors.

Torre said there are also no plans to move Soriano from second base. There had been speculation in the past the Yankees might at some point move him to the outfield.

Seattle Mariners: Freddy Garcia already was getting paid like a No. 1 starter, and Mariners manager Bob Melvin made things official by giving him the title on Wednesday.

Garcia will start March 25 when the Mariners open the regular season against the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo. Jamie Moyer will start the second game of the series, as well as the home opener April 8 against Anaheim.

"This is going to be Freddy's year, but I've said all along they're going to be No. 1 and No. 1-A," Melvin said. "They still are. It works out good that Jamie gets a significant opener, too, because both of them deserve one."

Garcia was awarded a $6,875,000 salary at an arbitration hearing last week, the third-highest amount a player gained in arbitration. The 26-year-old right-hander went 16-10 with a 4.39 ERA last year.

Before leaving camp for the hearing, Garcia introduced himself to Melvin and promised the outcome would have no effect on his pitching. With the matter resolved, the Mariners feel Garcia is worthy of a No. 1 slot.

"He's always had the stuff, always had the ability," Melvin said. "At times, he's pitched like one, too. With everything out of the way now, with the way he feels about himself and the way we feel about him, it's time." Right-handers Joel Pineiro and Ryan Franklin also will be available to throw as relievers in Japan if needed, with Melvin saying the two-game series will be similar to a postseason situation. The fifth starter hasn't been determined.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Greg Vaughn shrugs when he's asked about his future with the Devil Rays.

The 37-year-old slugger is coming off the worst season of his career and is the highest-paid player on a team with the lowest payroll in the major leagues. He insists he doesn't have anything to prove in spring training, yet knows he has to show enough in camp to make a case for remaining on the club.

"I'm here, I'm going to work hard, I'm going to do whatever I can to get myself ready to play baseball, whether it's in Tampa or somewhere else,'' said Vaughn, who's preparing for his 14th big league season.

"I have no control over what happens. I'm a baseball player. I'm not a general manager. I'm not an owner. I can't make those types of decisions, and I'm not going to beat myself up worrying about those types of things. I'm just going to get ready to play baseball.''

Vaughn hit .163 with eight homers and 29 RBI in 69 games last year. He's entering the final season of a $34 million contract and is due to earn $9.25 million.

General manager Chuck LaMar said last week that Vaughn needs to prove this spring that he's capable of being the hitter Tampa Bay felt they were getting when they signed him as a free agent before the 2000 season.

"When we signed him, in the two previous years, he hit 95 homers. ... It's not like he became a bad player when he became a Tampa Bay Devil Ray. He just has, because of injury and because of performance, very candidly, not performed up to our expectations,'' LaMar said.

Texas Rangers: Players are tossing baseballs and taking batting practice this week at the Rangers' new spring training home, and the team is hoping the new facility turns a money-losing part of the season into profits.

After years of training in Florida, the Rangers this month opened a new $48 million facility in Surprise, Ariz.

"We could make a couple of bucks versus losing several hundred thousand dollars in Florida," said Mike Cramer, president of Southwest Sports Group, which owns the Rangers. "It could be a million-dollar swing."

In Florida, the Rangers drew the smallest crowds in the Grapefruit League, fewer than 1,500 per game. In Arizona, the average attendance for Cactus League games is 5,000.

The Rangers get 80 percent of the ticket revenue from home practice games in Surprise, with the city getting the rest plus a $1 surcharge on each ticket.

The Rangers' rent will fall from $150,000 to $100,000 if they and the neighboring Kansas City Royals average at least 5,500 fans per game. If the teams draw 6,500 per game, rent is waived.