Pirates Notebook: Fifth starter might come from a trade with Atlanta  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Both Victor Santos and Brandon Duckworth pitched well for the Pirates in their 8-3 victory against Philadelphia yesterday, but in the short run it might not have mattered.

Bagwell's long career is just about over  —  Maybe now people will understand why the Astros filed their insurance claim on first baseman Jeff Bagwell — and why they would have preferred that he had not come to spring training at all.  —  The Astros' case for insurance was damaged …

Graffanino is placed on waivers  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Unable to find a suitable offer for Tony Graffanino, and uninterested in taking the financial hit to cut him or keep him, the Sox have placed the spare second baseman on waivers.  —  At least a few teams — including the Mets, Cardinals …

New fielding book may leave Rangers feeling defensive  —  Management using 'Fielding Bible' as evaluation tool  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - Two new books sit prominently on the desk of Rangers general manager Jon Daniels.  One, the memoirs of John Schuerholz called Built to Win …

Cards contenders despite so-so offseason … JUPITER, Fla. — Excitement builds and emotions crest in the weeks before a ballpark's debut.  Just don't expect St. Louis manager Tony La Russa to get all Dick Vermeil-ish over something as mundane as a change of workplace.

Notes: Francoeur practicing patience  —  Right fielder hot since returning from World Baseball Classic  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — While there might be better ways to develop patience, the eye infection that confined Jeff Francoeur to his living room much of November might have actually been a blessing in disguise.

Three vets out for redemption  —  Frank Thomas and Tim Salmon were playing against one another in the Cape Cod League in 1988.  Steve Finley already had made it to Triple-A with Rochester.  Ronald Reagan was the president.  —  Now, 18 years later, Thomas, Salmon and Finley came …

Wagner throws without pain  —  Mets closer believes return by Opening Day is still a possibility  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — It was the most fundamental and mundane activity for a pitcher — simply "hurling the sphere," as Randy Jones used to call it.  It was nothing more than a game of catch …

Nats Look to Overcome System Failures  —  VIERA, Fla., March 25 — The days when the Montreal Expos' farm system cranked out major leaguers — from Tim Raines to Tim Wallach, from Javier Vazquez to Vladimir Guerrero — were long gone by the time the franchise moved to Washington and became the Nationals.

Hee Sop Joy  —  I'm not sure whether to be more amazed by the abilities of this front office or the inabilities of 25 others.  Hee Sop Choi, a man whose closest 2003 comp was David Ortiz and who looks every bit like a player who would have breakout potential if someone ever gave him a decent chance …

Brewers break out bats vs. D-Backs  —  Koskie, Hardy, Jenkins, Fielder each collect two hits in win  —  BREWERS 16, DIAMONDBACKS 5  —  Brewers at the plate: After a 1-2-3 first, the Brewers erupted for 11 hits over the next two-plus innings against D-Backs Opening Day starter Brandon Webb.

Sweeney could see Major time in 2006  —  Youngster adjusts, once again considered a top prospect  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — During a recent morning meeting with his coaching staff, manager Ozzie Guillen asked the question that many White Sox fans have been wondering for the past year or so.

Notes: Fernandez in the bullpen mix  —  Knuckleballer looks to crack Brewers Opening Day roster  —  PHOENIX — The knuckleballer is so focused on making the Brewers' Opening Day roster that he is barely willing to acknowledge the alternative.  —  "If I go back to Triple-A …

Nationals have big plans for Casto  —  Hot-hitting prospect may make switch to second base  —  VIERA, Fla. — Third baseman Kory Casto did something last year that every other hitter in the Nationals organization had a tough time doing: drive in runs.  —  In fact, Casto, 24 …