DE AZA CARTED OFF FIELD (10:34 p.m. ET)
Marlins center fielder Alejandro De Aza was carted off the field after he was injured in an outfield collision while chasing Chad Moeller's inside-the-park home run, and the New York Yankees beat Florida 4-2 on Saturday night.
De Aza and right fielder John Raynor went after the ball, and Raynor slid into De Aza's left ankle. While De Aza writhed on the ground, Raynor went after the ball. His throw home wasn't in time to get Moeller.
"I saw it at the last second," Raynor said. "Decided to slide, make an attempt at the ball. ... I think I clipped his ankle a bit with my shoe. I don't know. It's unfortunate. I guess it happens in the game."
The Marlins said De Aza had a sprained ankle and was getting X-rays on Saturday night.
De Aza, who doubled in the second inning, started on Opening Day last season and batted .303 in nine games before being sidelined with an ankle injury. He missed nearly four months.
-- The Associated Press
DEMPSTER READY TO START (9:15 p.m. ET)
Ryan Dempster spent the spring proving himself as a starter again, and his final tuneup for the Chicago Cubs was a success.
The right-hander allowed one run and six hits in four innings Saturday, sending the Chicago Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the exhibition finale for both teams.
Dempster was a starter with Florida and Cincinnati before spending almost all of the past four seasons in the Cubs' bullpen. He saved 85 games from 2005-07.
He will make his first regular-season start of 2008 against the Milwaukee Brewers in Chicago on Thursday.
-- The Associated Press
CIVIL RIGHTS GAME HAS MEANING (9:06 p.m. ET)
Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams views the annual Civil Rights game as more than a spring-ending exhibition with a reflection on historical significance.
He sees it as an opportunity to mark the struggles of the past and continue efforts to strive for equality.
"Anytime you can bring attention to a part of our society that needs improvement, and you have a chance to make things better as a result of your participation, you can only be supportive of it," said Williams, who is black.
With an overtone of history, the New York Mets defeated the White Sox 3-2 on Saturday, closing out their preseason in the Civil Rights Game.
The game, played under overcast skies and an early shower, culminated two days of festivities recognizing a significant time in the country's social history and baseball's role in that change.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen called the experience "awesome," and wished the team had more time to appreciate the exhibits when they toured the museum Saturday morning. As for standing in the spot of King's death, "you kind of feel freaky about it."
-- The Associated Press
NIXON ASSIGNED TO MINORS (8:53 p.m. ET)
Trot Nixon accepted a minor league assignment from Arizona after he lost out to outfielder Alex Romero for a spot on the Diamondbacks' opening day roster.
The Diamondbacks signed Nixon to a minor league contract at the start of spring training.
The former longtime Boston Red Sox outfielder hit .214 with two home runs in 56 at-bats this spring. He saw some work at first base, a position he'd never played.
Romero hit .345 in 58 at-bats this spring to take the fourth outfielder spot.
Nixon, who hit .251 with three homers in 307 at-bats last season for the Cleveland Indians, will start the season with Triple-A Tucson.
-- The Associated Press
HAMPTON ENDS SPRING HEALTHY (5:55 p.m. ET)
Mike
Hampton pitched three innings for Atlanta, allowing four hits and a run in the Braves' 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.
"I feel good about where I'm at," said Hampton, who posted a 2.16 ERA in five spring starts and overcame the minor setback of a strained groin. "I feel good about my stuff. I accomplished what I needed to accomplish."
Hampton will make his first start on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves are counting on him to bolster a rotation that didn't have much depth a year ago beyond Tim Hudson and John Smoltz.
"Nothing was hit hard off him," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He really had a terrific spring."
Braves RHP John Smoltz will pitch a minor league exhibition game in Florida on Sunday, then return to Atlanta for a couple of side sessions in hopes of making his first start next weekend. He'll start the season on the disabled list.
-- The Associated Press
RAYS TRIM ROSTER TO 25 (5:50 p.m. ET)
Right-hander Grant Balfour was designated for assignment and fellow relievers Kurt Birkins and Chad Orvella were placed on the 15-day disabled list when the Tampa Bay Rays made their final cuts of spring training on Saturday.
The Rays also purchased the contract of infielder Eric Hinske from Triple-A Durham and said he will start Monday's season opener at Baltimore in right field.
Catcher Josh Paul was released. Infielder Joel Guzman was optioned to Durham; right-handed reliever Juan Salas was optioned to Class-A Hudson Valley, and right-hander Scott Munter, infielders Andy Cannizaro and Chris Richard, outfielders John Rodriguez and Jon Weber and catcher Mike DiFelice were reassigned to minor league camp.
Left-hander Birkins (left elbow neuritis) and right-hander Orvella (right shoulder tendinitis) were placed on the DL retroactive to March 21.
-- The Associated Press
NOMO'S COMEBACK STALLED (4:55 p.m. ET)
A groin strain has put Hideo Nomo's comeback bid with the Kansas City Royals on hold.
The right-hander is headed back to Arizona for physical therapy on the right groin muscle he injured earlier this week. But the 39-year-old doesn't think the injury will end his attempt to return after spending the past two seasons out of the major leagues. He would be willing to pitch in the minors to prove he's ready.
"Yes, I think so," Nomo said Saturday through a translator. "But first, I have to go back to Arizona and do rehab and get myself healthy."
Royals manager Trey Hillman said Nomo showed he still has major league ability.
"Yes, he did," Hillman said. "We don't know yet about back-to-back days, we don't know about the new role, but yes."
Nomo, a non-roster spring training invitee for Kansas City, was 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA in 15 innings this spring. His comeback bid drew considerable attention in his home country, as a crowd of Japanese reporters followed the Royals in spring training.
-- The Associated Press
MARINERS SET ROSTER (4:30 p.m. ET)
The Seattle Mariners essentially set their Opening Day roster on Saturday, and it will include spring star Mike Morse and speedy Charlton Jimerson as the last two position players to make the team.
The Mariners' roster became clear after they traded minor league catcher Jair Fernandez to Minnesota on Saturday in exchange for the Twins rejecting Seattle's offer to return Rule 5 draftee R.A. Dickey.
Seattle then optioned Dickey to Triple-A Tacoma in a surprising move. The knuckleballer and former No. 1 draft choice of Texas, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues in 23 months, was a spring revelation with a 2.25 ERA, only one home run allowed in 20 innings and the versatility to pitch in a variety of roles.
Morse, who entered Saturday batting .508 this spring and is out of options, and Jimerson will be the reserve outfielders following outfielder Jeremy Reed's demotion. Reed was Seattle's starting center fielder two years ago but has been injured and mostly at Tacoma since. He is left-handed, and McLaren preferred a right-handed reserve behind a starting outfield full of lefties.
-- The Associated Press
PETTITTE TO PITCH IN GAME SUNDAY (2:45 p.m. ET)
Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte reported no problems Saturday, one day after throwing 25 pitches off a bullpen mound.
Pettitte will pitch in a minor league game Sunday.
Originally slated to start the Yankees' second game of the regular season, Pettitte has been slowed by back spasms and now is scheduled to make his first start next Saturday.
"I'm good to go. I feel good," Pettitte said.
Pettitte played catch and took grounders at the Yankees' minor league complex. He hasn't pitched in a game since March 17.
-- The Associated Press
BENNETT GETS FINAL BULLPEN SPOT (1:40 p.m. ET)
The Braves finalized their 25-man roster Saturday, optioning pitcher Buddy Carlyle to Triple-A Richmond and handing Jeff Bennett the final spot in the bullpen.
Bennett went into spring training hoping to make the team as a starter, but wasn't complaining about his role as a long reliever.
"I'm pretty excited to be making the team," he said. "You know the routine that you have to do. The main thing is being ready for the game. And it doesn't take that much to stay fresh when you're not throwing in a game. That's what I had to learn last year. I'm glad I did."
Bennett, who missed all of 2006 recovering from major elbow surgery, spent most of last season at Richmond. He started six games and relieved in 30 others, going 3-5 with a 3.35 ERA and one save.
Called up by the Braves late in the season, he went 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three appearances -- two of them starts -- and impressed the team with his ability keep the ball down in the strike zone. The 27-year-old right-hander also went on a strict diet and training regimen last summer, losing more than 50 pounds.
-- The Associated Press
WILLIAMS RELEASED, SAYS HE'S RETIRING (12:50 p.m. ET)
Woody Williams, released by the Astros on Saturday, told a Houston television station he won't be looking for work elsewhere.
"This is the first day of the rest of my life without playing, without baseball," he said, according to KRIV-TV in Houston.
"I signed with the Astros with the plan to finish my career here," Williams said, according to the report. "I am not going anywhere else.
"I still think I can play but I don't want to go anywhere else," he added, according to the report. "I'm tired. I have had a long career."
Williams signed a $12.5 million, two-year contract with the Astros before last season and is owed a $6.25 million salary for this year and a $250,000 buyout of a 2009 club option worth $6.75 million. He had a $6 million base salary last year and earned $250,000 in performance bonuses.
Williams went 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA last season. This spring, he had an ERA of 11.32.
The Astros also said Roy Oswalt, Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez and Shawn Chacon will pitch in the first four games of the season when Houston takes on the San Diego Padres. Chris Sampson will be Houston's fifth starter.
CAMERON'S SUSPENSION HITS HOME (9:28 a.m. ET)
After spending spring training with the Brewers, center fielder Mike Cameron now must get used to the idea of spending 25 games away from the team -- his punishment for testing positive twice for a banned stimulant last season.
"A couple of days ago, I just kind of got the reality of it," Cameron said, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I knew it was going to happen but once you start playing in spring training, all of a sudden you go, 'Man, it's going to happen.'"
Brewers manager Ned Yost let Cameron start in center field Friday night in a preseason game against Kansas City so he could get a feel for playing at Miller Park.
"I told Cam, 'This is the last five innings you're going to play for me for a while. Enjoy it,'" Yost said, according to the report.
Cameron will leave the team Sunday and return home to Georgia for a few days before reporting to extended spring training. He'll rejoin the Brewers for pregame workouts when they visit the Cardinals April 15-17. But until his suspension ends, Cameron must leave the stadium before games begin.
LOAIZA GETS NOD AS DODGERS' FIFTH STARTER (9:11 a.m. ET)
What kind of contract you have can make all the difference for a major league player. Pitcher Esteban Loaiza has a guaranteed deal. Chan Ho Park signed a minor league contract.
The result? Loaiza earned the job as fifth starter in the Dodgers rotation while Park will likely head to the minors to increase his pitch count. Park could also remain with the Dodgers to work as the team's long reliever.
While no one is saying the contract was the main reason for the decision, Loaiza is certainly pleased with the end result.
"I can say I have a lot off my shoulders because Chan Ho was pitching so great," Loaiza told reporters.
PETTITTE TO START SEASON ON DL (9:07 a.m. ET)
Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte will at least start the season on the disabled list with stiffness in his back. But he is expected to be ready for the fifth game of the season.
The move means the Yankees will carry an eight-man bullpen until Pettitte returns.
In other roster moves, the Yankees sent down pitchers Darrell Rasner, Kei Igawa, Scott Patterson, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez and infielder Nick Green.
"I hate it, because I've been sent down," Girardi said. "It's heartbreaking."
Jonathan Albaladejo, Brian Bruney, Ross Ohlendorf and Billy Traber all made the team.
MURCER TO MISS YANKEES' OPENING DAY (9:05 a.m. ET)
Yankees broadcaster and former star Bobby Murcer is still recovering after a brain biopsy and won't be able to work the Opening-Day game when New York hosts the Toronto Blue Jays.
Murcer plans to stay at his Oklahoma home. Earlier this week, Murcer had told the New York Post that he was still hoping to make it to the game.
An All-Star outfielder who played 17 seasons in the major leagues, Murcer had surgery in December 2006 -- four days after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
Murcer has been a popular broadcaster on Yankees games for 23 seasons, winning several Emmy Awards.
