|  | | Ichiro makes a running catch for the Mariners. |
A quick roundup of news to know about:
Goodbye Goodwin, Trombley: The Dodgers decided to eat the contracts of veterans Tom Goodwin and Mike Trombley. The two are guaranteed nearly $6 million this year. After they refused minor-league assignments, the two will likely clear waivers and become free agents. The moves meant outfielder McKay Christensen made the roster -- for now, "We're not finished," manager Jim Tracy told the L.A. Daily News, not wanting to go into details about further moves. "We are likely going to alter our roster before one o'clock Tuesday," general manager Dan Evans said.
Who's on first? For Atlanta, the answer is ... well, it looks like B.J. Surhoff, Wes Helms and Julio Franco will all share time there. With right-hander Robert Person starting for the Phillies on Opening Day, look for Surhoff to get the start. The Braves' lineup will feature Andruw Jones hitting second and Vinny Castilla hitting fifth, with Chipper Jones and Gary Sheffield in the 3-4 spots.
Roster moves and news: Chris Hammond, who last pitched in the majors with the Marlins in 1998, made Atlanta's Opening Day roster. ... Seattle kept infielder Luis Ugueto and released veteran Alex Arias. Ugueto was a Rule 5 pick from Pittsburgh and must remain on the big-league roster all season. ... Todd Hundley hit just .178 this spring, following up last year's .178 average, but will start for the Cubs. ... Marty Cordova will start on the DL for Baltimore. The Orioles also named Geronimo Gil the starting catcher and recalled outfielder Larry Bigbie. ... Jay Bell will start on the DL, so look for Junior Spivey to play third for Arizona.
A mess at third: Russ Johnson won Tampa Bay's starting third-base job but will begin the season on the DL with plantar fascia tendon in his right foot. Prospect Jared Sandberg, already sent down, will remain in Triple-A. Aubrey Huff, who struggled in his third-base audition last year and was slated to be Durham's first baseman, broke bones in three places around his left eye socket during a workout Friday. He'll undergo surgery Monday or Tuesday and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season. That leaves veteran Bobby Smith, who started last year with Tampa but was sent down after hitting .105 in six games, as the starting third baseman in the opener against Detroit.
Some final spring numbers of note: Byung-Hyun Kim: 17.1 IP, 15 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 16 SO ... and one HR. ... Jon Garland, White Sox: 30 H, 21 R in 15.1 innings ... teammate Gary Glover, the team's top setup guy: 23 R, 32 H in 16.1 IP ... teammate Todd Ritchie: 44 H, 26 R in 29 IP ... teammate Jon Rauch: 25 H, 20 R in 16.1 IP ... Roy Oswalt, Astros: 31 IP, 14 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 36 SO ... Josh Beckett, Marlins: 19 IP, 16 H, 7 BB, 15 SO ... Hank Blalock, Rangers: .333 (29-87), 4 HR, 15 RBI ... Carlos Pena, A's: .145 (8-55), 1 HR ... Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks: 9 HRs ... Jeff Bagwell, Astros: .446, 7 HR ... teammate Lance Berkman: .375, 7 HR.
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