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The idea of moving to second base doesn't sit well with Cesar Izturis, who won the Gold Glove in 2004 and has been the Dodger shortstop the last four years. Dodger GM Ned Colletti has made it clear that Rafael Furcal, who signed a three-year, $39-million contract, is the Dodger shortstop. Power-hitting Jeff Kent whose contract expires at the end of the season, is the second baseman. That leaves Izturis as either trade bait, the league's most talented utility player or insurance against an injury -- Los Angeles Times

Chipper Jones might withdraw from the upcoming World Baseball Classic. His 18-month-old son, Shea, had a serious intestinal virus and was in and out of an Atlanta hospital for a month. The toddler's condition has improved and stabilized, but Jones wants to make sure Shea is OK before deciding whether to go to Phoenix March 2 for the start of the United States' team training camp. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jeff Weaver checked with his brother, Jered, before signing with the Angels. Jered Weaver appeared to have a shot at the fifth rotation spot, but with his older brother's signing, the Angel rotation looks set with Bartolo Colon, John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Jeff Weaver and Ervin Santana. "Jeff wanted to make sure it was cool with me, and I didn't mind at all," Jered Weaver said. -- Los Angeles Times

Owner Artie Moreno remains committed to the Angels' strong farm system and reiterated that the Angels would not meet the Red Sox's extremely high asking price for slugger Manny Ramirez. -- Los Angeles Times

Michael Barrett was Sammy Sosa's teammate for only one season, but the Cubs catcher lashed out Thursday at critics who want to detract from Sosa's accomplishments by charging that they were achieved by using steroids. -- Chicago Sun-Times

Ken Griffey Jr. reported with pitchers and catchers because he is coming off an injury. But he's healthy and ready to go. He ended the year on the disabled list after a right foot injury. He also had minor surgery on his left knee, but those problems are well behind him. -- Cincinnati Enquirer

With free agency waiting to embrace him in November, Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder on Thursday offered some simple advice to anyone interested in future negotiations: Talk to my agent. Talks with the Cardinals have yet to begin, according to agent Greg Clifton and the club. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Before being traded to the Rangers in July, the report on Phil Nevin was that he'd lost the ability to pull the ball. Nevin didn't help himself by dragging a poor attitude along after the trade. Thanks to a five-day-a-week workout plan with former teammate Brian Giles and former NFL player Mack Douglas, Nevin dropped 20 pounds, then put them back on as muscle. He is thinner, but he feels stronger. -- Dallas Morning News

Mike Mussina's six-year, $88.5 million contract expires at the end of this season and the 37-year-old said yesterday he would like to return to the Bronx next season. -- New York Daily News

With two weeks remaining before the players have to report to their national teams, George Steinbrenner said he expects several more will back out of the World Baseball Classic. The Yankees, however, have been against the idea from the beginning, though nobody publicly admitted it until Steinbrenner expressed his feelings yesterday. -- Newsday

Josh Beckett wasn't due in the Red Sox camp until tomorrow, but showed up yesterday, and threw a bullpen session. Beckett was spinning off curveballs and locating fastballs, and, after disappearing into a weight room, emerged to say he believes he's healthy. -- Boston Globe

Scott Erickson was last a proficient major league pitcher seven seasons and four organizations ago. Yet the Yankees - partially out of a favor to his friend Jason Giambi -- indulged the veteran righty's request for a tryout. -- New York Post

It's not time, Royals GM Allard Baird believes, to explore multiyear contracts with outfielder David DeJesus or any of the club's young players. -- Kansas City Star

No player in baseball eats up more of his team's payroll than Todd Helton, who will make $16.6 million this season. -- Denver Post

Rays VP Andrew Friedman quashed any notion that OF Carl Crawford would miss Opening Day with the lingering wrist injury that forced him to pull out of the World Baseball Classic. -- Tampa Tribune

The Orioles have offered free-agent outfielder Richard Hidalgo a minor league deal laden with incentives, and are awaiting word on whether he'll accept. -- Baltimore Sun

Manager Eric Wedge said on Thursday that recently acquired right-hander Guillermo Mota will get the first opportunity to fill Bob Howry's set-up spot. Wedge said others who could be seen in the eighth inning to get to closer Bob Wickman are Rafael Betancourt, Fernando Cabrera, Matt Miller and Scott Sauerbeck. -- Cleveland Plain Dealer

The Marlins, continuing to explore relocation, have held discussions with a top official from Oklahoma City but have not decided whether to make a visit there, according to two officials close to the situation. The Marlins have met with officials with San Antonio, Portland, Ore., and Norfolk, Va., and are expected to visit Charlotte, N.C. -- Miami Herald

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