Around the camps

Hanley Ramirez had a great 2007, and he looks headed for an even better 2008. AP

• The Indians are the latest to inquire about Freddy Garcia, who will wait until he regains full health before deciding where to pitch. By the time he's ready -- perhaps June -- just about anyone will be able to use him.

• One Orioles teammate said of Brian Roberts, "He can't believe he's still here.''

• With Owens out, the White Sox may be forced to play Nick Swisher in center field a lot to start the season. "He's really a DH or a first baseman,'' says one scout of Swisher. "At best, he's a left fielder.''

• The Braves have been trying to trade Scott Thorman, a former No. 1 pick who didn't live up to the hype.

• It's like the Angels knew they needed to worry about their starting pitching. When they acquired Jon Garland from the White Sox this winter, it looked like overkill. Not so. Now with Lackey and Escobar out, Dustin Moseley will get a shot. And it appears prospect Nick Adenhart will have his chance earlier than thought. Says one scout, "I think he's ready.''

• There's some concern in Rockies camp regarding whether Franklin Morales is ready. They seem more sure about Ubaldo Jimenez.

• The Rangers want Jarrod Saltalamacchia to learn how to catch, so the minors are a better place to do that.

• The Royals' Billy Butler is "probably the best young hitter we've seen this spring,'' one competing GM said.

• Giants prospect Dan Ortmeier hasn't been impressing too many folks in his efforts to win the first-base job. And he had a built-in advantage: manager Bruce Bochy allegedly isn't a big Rich Aurilia fan.

• Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda looks solid for the Dodgers as he prepares for his big-league debut after coming over from Japan this offseason.

• While some are saying Andruw Jones looks a tad heavy, one GM said it's "nothing ungodly.''

• David Wright looks ready for a big year even if his spring numbers aren't overwhelming. Wright said he worked on taking more pitches this spring, and he appears locked in.

• The Mets are leaning strongly to giving their No. 5 starters' job to Mike Pelfrey, sources say. But they're doing it more on rep and talent than on performance (0-1, 8.31 ERA). Some within the organization, though, are starting to wonder about Pelfrey's toughness.

• Veteran catcher Raul Casanova is likely to start the season with the Mets in place of Ramon Castro, who's hurt (hamstring). It appears Fernando Tatis may beat out Ruben Gotay for the team's final roster spot.

• Hottest new name this spring: young Braves pitcher Jair Jurrjens (who came from Detroit in the Edgar Renteria trade). "He has good stuff and an idea out there,'' one scout says.

• Journeyman Denny Bautista is the Tigers set-up man, until they think of someone better.

• In the long shot to end all long shots, outfielder Clete Thomas will apparently earn a spot on the Tigers' Opening Day roster. Thomas was a non-roster player sent down on March 12, but he made such a positive impression on manager Jim Leyland that when Curtis Granderson broke a bone in his right hand, it gave Thomas another shot.

• One scout said the best player he saw all spring was (drum roll please) ... Hanley Ramirez.

• Another scout said the best pitching performance he saw all spring was turned in by ... Felix Hernandez.

• I know this is a long shot. But how about a barnstorming team made up of Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mike Piazza, Kenny Lofton (he's played for everyone else), Jeff Weaver and the others still looking for a job. Hey, they might be better than the Orioles, Giants and Pirates.