BASEBALL ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Pirates: Despite losing closer Mike Gonzalez in a trade, Pittsburgh officials say they remain confident about their bullpen. Before Gonzalez was sent to the Atlanta Braves in the January trade that brought first baseman Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh, the Pirates were going to have a closer who was perfect in save situations last season. Gonzalez was 24-for-24, with workhorses Salomon Torres, Matt Capps and John Grabow in setup roles and Damaso Marte as the one-out specialist. The Sporting News earlier this month rated that group No. 1, with the significant asterisk that its research predated the Gonzalez trade. "I think we can be very capable," manager Jim Tracy said. "There are still a lot of very good relievers here, all of whom can still get better than they were." Capps said he isn't worried. "You look around at the guys we have, the good innings they give you and how we did in the late-inning situations, and I think we'll be fine," he said. Torres will be the closer, a role he filled for the final five weeks of 2006 after Gonzalez went down to an elbow injury. He converted 11-of-12 saves with a 1.26 ERA in that span, all while running up his total appearances to 94, the most in the majors.
Nationals: Cristian Guzman went right to work. With two lost seasons to put behind him -- 2006 ended in spring training with a right shoulder injury, 2005 ended with a .219 batting average -- the shortstop was eager to get going immediately after reporting to camp Sunday. The switch-hitter took swings from both sides of the plate in the cage, then asked manager Manny Acta to go over to a field with him for some glove work. "I've got a lot of things to prove this year -- 2005, I know this was a bad year for me, and 2006, I [didn't] play at all," Guzman said. "So now, 2007, I have to do something."
Tigers: Justin Verlander is confident, not cocky. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year will not come straight out and say he wants to win a Cy Young Award. But when asked about earning the honor sometime during his career, the fireballing right-hander considers it realistic. "I don't think I'm teasing myself because it's something for me to strive for," Verlander said. "There's an opportunity." Verlander came to spring training last year competing for a spot in the rotation. Now, his job is secure after he ranked among the AL leaders in wins and ERA. Verlander was 17-9 in the regular season, becoming the first rookie to win 17 games since Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia in 2001. It was the best performance by a Detroit rookie pitcher since Mark "The Bird" Fidrych won 19 games in 1976.
Yankees: Bernie Williams wants a guarantee, not a maybe, so it appears he won't be with New York when position players start workouts Tuesday. Manager Joe Torre planned to call Williams again. But catcher Jorge Posada thinks Williams can't be persuaded to accept a minor league contract. "I called him and he hasn't returned my call," Posada said Sunday. "That just tells me something negative. That just tells me he won't be here."
Player moves: Infielder Ronnie Belliard agreed to a non-guaranteed, minor league contract with the Nationals Sunday that will pay him 750,000 if he makes the team -- which manager Manny Acta made sound like a foregone conclusion. Belliard, expected to report to camp Tuesday, provides insurance at second base, where he started for the St. Louis Cardinals in last year's World Series. He also can play third, his position on Acta's winter ball team in the Dominican Republic. ... The Dodgers and catcher Kelly Stinnett agreed to a minor league contract Sunday. Stinnett, who split last season between the New York Yankees and Mets, joins a group of catchers in spring training camp that includes likely starter Russell Martin and his presumed backup, Mike Lieberthal.
Associated Press
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