Nats sign Astacio to Minor League deal  —  Veteran right-hander will start season at Triple-A Columbus  —  JUPITER, Fla. — In need of pitching depth down the road, the Nationals signed right-hander Pedro Astacio to a non-guaranteed Minor League deal on Tuesday.

Playing time no idle chatter for White Sox  —  Guillen worries that Mackowiak will get rusty in early going  —  PHOENIX — Ozzie Guillen will face a tough task finding playing time for Rob Mackowiak during the first two weeks of the regular season.  The White Sox have three off days ... and a crowded outfield.

Willie: It's time to get on the ball  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Coming off Monday's off day, and with the number of exhibition games dwindling, manager Willie Randolph gathered his players in a conference room yesterday for a meeting designed to turn up the intensity for the remainder of the Grapefruit League schedule.

Hot stove talk  —  Manny breaks silence, but it takes a grilling  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — "Mirabelli, I'm a businessman," Manny Ramírez yelled across the clubhouse to Doug Mirabelli with a smile.  "Got to make a little money."  —  Ramírez sat down at his locker …

Notes: Benitez, Julio eyed in deal  —  Marlins trying to land veteran reliver before Opening Day  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Pursuing trade options for a closer remains a real possibility for the Marlins.  —  Sources continue to say the team has interest in veterans Armando Benitez and Jorge Julio.

Uecker's Stalker Shows Up At Spring Training Game  —  PHOENIX — An attorney for a woman ordered to stay away from Brewers' broadcaster Bob Uecker said if Uecker wasn't at the spring training game that she attended Monday, then she wasn't violating the restraining order.

Indians hire formerly imprisoned sportscaster  —  WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Cleveland Indians are taking a chance on a sportscaster fresh out of prison for not paying taxes on gambling earnings.  —  SportsTime Ohio, a 24-hour TV network owned by the club, announced Tuesday …

Ortiz leads Red Sox past Twins  —  Slugger's clutch hitting propels Boston to a win over Minnesota  —  RED SOX 6, TWINS 5  —  Red Sox at the plate: David Ortiz roped a two-run single and added a sacrifice fly.  Mike Lowell smashed his third homer of the spring, a solo shot in the second inning.

Sox' Timlin to start season on DL: Door opens for Tavarez  —  FORT MYERS - The Red Sox [team stats]' Opening Day closer picture became a little clearer yesterday when the decision was made to have Mike Timlin [stats] open the season on the disabled list.  —  Red Sox forum:

It's anyone's ball game  —  Freeway World Series beckons as parity grips MLB  —  Here is a message for George Steinbrenner, Derek Jeter, Brian Cashman and everyone else who has bought in to the Yankees culture that the season is a failure if New York does not win the World Series: The '90s are so over.

Brewers announce special savings for juniors, seniors and military  —  Free Terrace level tickets offered to active and retired military personnel  —  MILWAUKEE — For the third consecutive season, the Milwaukee Brewers will honor members of the United States Armed Forces through Stars …

Lewis, Macias among Nationals' cuts  —  Lydon, Toca, Martinez also given unconditional release  —  VIERA, Fla. — Pitchers Colby Lewis and Luis Martinez, infielders Jose Macias and Jorge Toca and outfielder Wayne Lydon were unconditionally released on Monday by the Nationals.

The Riddle  —  With an array of pitches as sublime and mesmerizing as haiku, $100 million import Daisuke Matsuzaka could tip the American League balance of power to the Red Sox — and explode the old myths about pampering pitchers  —  The cherubic face of Daisuke Matsuzaka bears a mysterious contentment …