Unwanted Guest

L. Jon Wertheim

March 06, 2006

THE EARLY days of spring training are a time to loosen stiff muscles, reconnect with teammates and, if you're Jeff Bagwell, try to ignore the fact that your bosses would rather you weren't around. The first baseman's standoff with the Astros--they have an insurance policy that will pay $15.6 million of Bagwell's $17 million salary if he's not healthy enough to play--took an awkward turn when the franchise leader in home runs and RBIs arrived in camp last Friday, hell-bent on proving he belongs in the lineup this season. "I felt like it was a little bit of a trial camp," said Bagwell, 37, who played only 39 games last year because of a shoulder injury. "I felt like I almost had to try and prove something." He does: Doctors who examined him last month told Houston his shoulder was still damaged and he shouldn't be expected to throw or hit like he once did. Bagwell doesn't have long to prove otherwise. "I can't just go away," he said. "I'm going to need a couple of weeks ... and then make a decision from there." --S.C.