Yanks expect Pettitte to start spring behind in prep … Andy Pettitte no longer has to go to Washington, and instead, he is scheduled to report to the Yankees' training camp in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday.  But staff members expect that Pettitte will be behind in his preparation for the 2008 season …

Mench for the bench  —  Kevin Mench is coming back to the Rangers.  Mench agreed to a minor league deal with the club on Tuesday afternoon.  He'll fight for a backup outfielder's spot along with David Murphy, Nelson Cruz and Jason Botts.  —  Mench, 30, hit .267 for Milwaukee last year with a .746 OPS and eight homers in 101 games.

Q & A with Joe Girardi  —  When I interviewed Yankees Manager Joe Girardi in Coral Springs, Fla., last Wednesday, we set 9 a.m. as the meeting time.  I figured I would get to the coffee shop early to scout out a quiet place to sit.  I arrived at 8:40 a.m., and Girardi was already there.

Looking ahead: The options game  —  DETROIT — Spring training starts this week, which means the guessing game for the 25-man opening day roster starts, too.  —  You'll need to know who has minor-league options remaining, and sure enough I got an e-mail this morning from Glenn, asking about just that.

Twins fill spot vacated by Santana with Hernandez  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Pitcher Livan Hernandez and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract.  —  Hernandez can earn an additional $2 million in performance bonuses.  —  The Twins are short on experience in their rotation …

Home run apple will follow New York Mets to new ballpark  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The huge fiberglass apple that pops up when the New York Mets hit home runs will follow them to their new ballpark when it opens next year.  —  “The big home run apple is coming,” the team's chief operating officer …

Feb. 12 — BENSON ON THE WAY?  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Just got off the phone with Kris Benson's agent, who says a deal between the free-agent right-hander and the Phillies may be struck within the next 24 to 36 hours.  —  Gregg Clifton told me he has been speaking with Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr …

Refreshed Hansen bursting with energy  —  Young reliever feeling great following sleep apnea surgery  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — One thing you always hear from players in the early days of Spring Training is that they feel refreshed.  In the case of Red Sox reliever Craig Hansen, that is anything but a cliché.

Revitalized Crawford sees hope for Rays … SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Adam Dunn leaned over the skybox at the raucous 16th hole during the recent FBR Open and yelled out to PGA golfer and friend Steve Elkington, rousing him into making his putt.  Elkington playfully acknowledged Dunn's taunts …

Jeter, Wang talk  —  A number of players worked out today at the Yankees minor league complex, including a handful of big leaguers.  Derek Jeter and Chien-Ming Wang each talked to reporters.  —  Here are a couple of Jeter comments.  He only addressed the steroid saga, as he was hurrying off to catch a flight.

Astros have veteran Chacon on radar  —  Club offers free-agent right-hander deal two days before camp  —  HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have made an offer to right-hander Shawn Chacon, one of a handful of free-agent pitchers still looking for work in the final stages of the 2007-08 offseason.