BASEBALL ROUNDUP News and notes

Giants: Lawyers for two men accused of participating in a steroid-distribution ring have come to the defense of Barry Bonds, saying the slugger "never took anything illegal."
Bonds was offered, but rejected, a questionable substance that's at the heart of the government's case, according to attorneys for Bonds' personal trainer and for the founder of a nutritional supplements lab implicated in the case.
The defense of Bonds, who has been accused by at least one fellow major leaguer of taking steroids, came outside court Friday after two hearings in the case against four men charged with providing performance-enhancing substances to dozens of professional athletes.
"Barry Bonds never took anything illegal. He declined to take any of these illegal substances," said Tony Serra, the attorney for Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson.
Serra said Bonds "was offered substances via the schedule," referring to a calendar seized in a search of Anderson's home that listed doses and scheduling of substances taken by the athletes he trains.
Serra said Bonds was offered something that prosecutors have referred to in documents as "a 'clear' steroid-like substance" -- the newly unmasked steroid THG. Serra said Bonds was offered that substance "by two or three people" through Anderson, but declined to try it.
Serra would not identify those other people, but said they also were involved in the case and that the substance had "to emanate out of the lab, I would think."
Serra was referring to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, whose founder Victor Conte and vice president James Valente are also charged with Anderson. Track coach Remi Korchemny is the fourth man indicted. All have pleaded innocent and are free on bail. Bonds frequently has denied steroid use and no athlete has been charged in the case.
Cubs: Kerry Wood figures the curse is about to be broken soon, and he wants to help the Chicago Cubs shatter it.
Wood agreed Friday to a $32.5 million, three-year contract, the most lucrative deal for a pitcher in club history. It includes a mutual option for the 2007 that could increase the value to $43 million.
"For me it was pretty simple. This organization gave me the opportunity when I was 18 years old to play professional baseball. That's something I'll never forget," Wood said in Mesa, Ariz.
"It was pretty easy. We are going to be a good team for a long time. And that was the whole determining factor for me. ... The whole reason I play this game is to win, and I think we are going to do that here for a while."
Braves: In Kissimmee, Fla., Atlanta Braves closer John Smoltz threw off the mound Friday for the second time this spring with no problems.
"He threw everything," manager Bobby Cox said. "He looked really good."
Smoltz has 100 saves over the last two seasons, but missed nearly a month at the end of 2003 with sore elbow. He returned for the playoffs, in noticeable discomfort, and had surgery just days after the season ended.
The Braves aren't concerned about Smoltz being ready for opening day.
"Not at all," Cox said. "He's good to roll."
Red Sox: In Fort Myers, Fla., the Boston Red Sox said Bronson Arroyo will be on the mound when they play the Yankees in an exhibition game on March 7, the first meeting of the teams since New York won last year's AL pennant.
"It's the Yankees," Arroyo said. "It doesn't matter if it's spring or the postseason, it's the Yankees. And if they want to see what I've got, no better team to prove it against than that Yankees."
Jose Contreras or Javier Vazquez is likely to start for New York in the game at Fort Myers.
Athletics: In Phoenix, Oakland left-hander Mark Mulder had back spasms that caused him to miss two straight spring training workouts with the Athletics.
The 26-year-old Mulder woke up Sunday with a sore back, a problem he never before encountered.
"I was concerned Sunday but that was about it," Mulder said Friday. "[Mark] Kotsay said it's happened to him and it usually takes three or four days, and that's what it's been."
-- Associated Press