BASEBALL ROUNDUP | News and notes

Cubs: Mark Prior's return was pushed back again. Prior probably won't pitch until May because of inflammation in his right Achilles' tendon and a stiff elbow. "I'd say May 1 or the first week of May is optimistic," general manager Jim Hendry said. "He's a guy that I don't think needs more than three or four weeks to get ready." Prior returned to spring training after spending Monday in Chicago, where he had an MRI and bone scan on his Achilles' tendon and right arm. The 23-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in a spring training game because of the Achilles' injury and was already expected to begin the season on the disabled list. He had been throwing off a mound this spring, but he's also felt "stiffness" in his pitching elbow. Both the Cubs and Prior said the MRI and bone scan showed nothing but inflammation in the heel and elbow. "It was completely away from the ligament and was more down on the bone," Prior said, referring to the elbow stiffness. Prior was 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts in his first full big league season last year, finishing third in voting for the NL Cy Young Award. His absence is a big loss for a stellar staff that includes Kerry Wood and Greg Maddux.
Red Sox: Pedro Martinez's final outing of the spring didn't last long. He was tagged for two homers and six runs before getting an out in a 13-8 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Josh Phelps hit a grand slam and Eric Hinske also connected in the first against Martinez, who pitched only three innings. Slated to start the season opener at Baltimore Sunday night, the right-hander threw 53 of his 84 pitches for strikes. "I'm fine, the best I have felt all spring," Martinez said in a statement released by the team. "I got my pitches in, spring training results don't matter." All six runs allowed by Martinez came in the first inning. He gave up eight hits, struck out five and hit Vernon Wells with a pitch. "I think he is smart enough to know it's Tuesday in Dunedin not Sunday in Baltimore," Boston manager Terry Francona said.
Rangers: Outfielder Brian Jordan might start the season on the disabled list because of a sore left knee. "There's a possibility for Monday, but it doesn't look good right now," manager Buck Showalter said in Surprise, Ariz.
World Cup: Baseball's chief labor negotiator expects an agreement soon with the players' association on a tournament. Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, said the sides have concentrated on a drug-testing agreement for a World Cup because a decision must be made soon whether to launch the tournament before the 2005 season. While players generally oppose Olympic drug-testing guidelines, which call for more frequent tests and harsher penalties than those in baseball, union chief operating officer Gene Orza said Sunday that his side is willing to agree to IOC-style rules for a World Cup.
Around the horn: San Francisco acquired left-hander Wayne Franklin and righty reliever Leo Estrella from Milwaukee for two minor league pitchers. ... Toronto traded outfielder Jayson Werth to Los Angeles for reliever Jason Frasor.
-- Associated Press