K-Rod leaving Angels after 2008?  —  Francisco Rodriguez, the owner of a major league-best 132 saves over the last three seasons, expects to become a free agent after 2008, the closer said Sunday.  —  When asked as he arrived in Arizona for spring training, K-Rod was asked if he thought 2008 would be his last season with the Angels.

Schneider catch of the offseason  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - The presence of Johan Santana transcends everything in Mets camp, as one would only expect.  The embarrassment of the epic September collapse has been replaced with a renewed swagger to the point where, of all people …

Stanton gets quiet over Roger's trail of blood  —  SARASOTA, Fla. - Mike Stanton was a supporting player of sorts in the hearings on the Mitchell Report last week when he was mentioned several times by congressmen quizzing Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens.  —  One topic was an alleged incident …

Phillies Belt back after boast  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - With position players' attendance still voluntary, Carlos Beltran stayed away from the Mets' spring-training complex Sunday, a day after borrowing Jimmy Rollins' script and anointing the Mets the NL East's “team to beat” for 2008.

Reyes plan favors Gotay  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Jose Reyes will play fewer games in 2008 in an attempt to keep him fresh, Willie Randolph suggested.  Reyes, who swooned in late September, started a team-high 160 games last season.  He ranks eighth in baseball in games played over the past three seasons …

Notes: Iwamura ready for second base  —  Infielder looking forward to move to right side of diamond  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Akinori Iwamura arrived at camp on Sunday with a smile on his face and a quick wit.  —  Iwamura is moving from third base to second this season and spoke of the move.

Muscular Rios impresses at the plate  —  Outfielder goes deep at batting practice while Ricciardi tries to work out a long-term contract  —  DUNEDIN, Fla.-One ball bounced off a driveway and onto a rooftop.  Another broke a branch off a treetop, some 20 metres up.

Nixon in D-backs' camp to audition for roster spot … TUCSON, Ariz. — Veteran outfielder Trot Nixon, still hoping to latch on with a big-league club as a free agent, auditioned for the Arizona Diamondbacks at the team's spring training complex in Tucson on Sunday.

SPRING TRAINING: Story of Pavano: ‘Damned Yankee!’  —  I have finally stumbled upon the one person in the Yankees' clubhouse who has less reason to be there than I do.  —  He dresses like the other players, breathes the same air, takes up valuable locker space and twice a month cashes …

Gallardo to miss 4 weeks after knee surgery  —  Phoenix — Right-hander Yovani Gallardo indeed does have torn cartilage in his left knee and will return to Milwaukee tomorrow to have arthroscopic surgery.  —  Gallardo is expected to be sidelined four weeks, virtually guaranteeing he will open the season on the disabled list.

Trade bait?  Something's fishy  —  Did Kyle Kendrick get sent packing to Japan?  Nah, he just got punked.  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Phillies traded Kyle Kendrick yesterday.  —  To the Yomiuri Giants.  In Japan.  For Kobayashi Iwamura.  —  “Do they have good food in Japan?” …