Soriano, Nats Appear Headed for Second Go-Round  —  SAN DIEGO — When second baseman Alfonso Soriano departed the Washington Nationals' spring training camp on March 2 to join the Dominican Republic team for the World Baseball Classic, he left with a seven-word message that was less a threat …

BoSox send Arroyo and cash to Reds for Pena  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher Bronson Arroyo on Monday to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Wily Mo Pena.  —  Arroyo was 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA last season.  The right-hander was part of a deep group of Red Sox starters …

Notes: Duckworth turning heads  —  Newcomer making case for rotation spot with strong spring  —  • Bucs mailbag: No spot for Craig Wilson  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In the month since the Pirates held their first workout of the spring at Pirate City, right-hander Brandon Duckworth …

Veteran left-hander Leiter retires after spring game  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Al Leiter attended the New York Yankees' spring reunion, then decided he's not coming back anymore.  —  The 19-year veteran retired Sunday after pitching to one batter in New York's 2-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Bye Bye Matt Thornton  —  The M's have traded Matt Thornton to the Chicago White Sox for Joe Borchard.  —  There's almost no way to not like this move, in my opinion.  Thornton was, and still is, essentially useless.  Yes, he throws 95, but big whoop-de-doo.

Mailbag: Turning down the Sheets  —  When will ace return to rotation?  Who will take his turn?  —  • Brewers Spring Training tickets  —  • Complete Spring Training coverage  —  With exactly two weeks to go before Opening Day, we dive back into the mailbag:

The 2006 Diamond Mind Projection Blowout  —  Last year, I ran 2000 Diamond Mind Simulations with Diamond Mind Baseball and projection disks by Diamond Mind and ZiPS.  This year, I've done it again, and also added another 1000 runs using Baseball Prospectus's PECOTA projections.

Bagwell's days appear to be numbered  —  With Opening Day two weeks away, scouts and executives are increasingly skeptical that Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell will make a successful comeback from right shoulder problems.  —  "It's hard for him to throw groundballs to the infielders between innings," a rival executive says.

Mets temporarily shut down Wagner  —  Finger sidelines closer until weekend; MRI results negative  —  • Buy Mets Spring Training tickets  —  • Complete Spring Training coverage  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — If Billy Wagner had experienced any angst, it wasn't readily apparent in his expression or manner.

Notes: Cubs play it safe with Lee  —  First baseman likely to return later this week from injury  —  • Cubs' Wood targets return in late April  —  • Complete Spring Training coverage  —  MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee is not expected to play until later …

Five Questions: Pittsburgh Pirates  —  Since Barry Bonds left for free agency in 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates have endured 13 consecutive losing seasons, the longest active streak in baseball.  Even the Brewers look poised to have a run of good seasons after finishing with 81 wins last year …

Bradley gets angry playing for A's  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Milton Bradley acknowledges needing an edge when he plays baseball.  It's complicated and sometimes it goes a little too far, but the Oakland Athletics outfielder plays better when he's angry.  —  "I create scenarios in my head …

Mariners go deep to take down D-Backs  —  MARINERS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4, 8 innings (weather)  —  Diamondbacks at the plate: All four of Arizona's runs came on home runs, with Luis Gonzalez smashing a two-run shot in the first inning, Jerry Gil hitting a solo homer in the fifth and Carlos Quentin lining …