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Baseball

Cone smiling but knows he faces long odds in his return

PORT ST. LUCIE -- David Cone climbed a bullpen mound in the rear of the Mets complex Friday morning, rocked back and threw to a catcher. After warming up, he threw 26 pitches, all fastballs, at less than full speed over five minutes.

It was Cone's most taxing workout, and his first off a mound, in 15 months. Although Cone joked with Vern Ruhle, the Mets pitching coach, and walked off smiling, he was blunt about his chances of succeeding in his comeback at the age of 40.

"It's a long shot," he said. "I wavered quite a bit because it's a difficult decision. I didn't want to come in here and embarrass myself. ... I decided I could suffer the worst-case scenario, which is, 'I can't do this anymore.' "

Cone, who agreed Thursday to a minor-league contract that would pay him $550,000 if he made the team, is vying for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Although his mechanics were a bit off, he reported feeling good after the bullpen session, and he was curious to see how his body would respond over the next few days.

Angels back in action

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The champagne and celebrations are in the past. The World Series champion Angels were back to work.

"We're not taking the angle that we're on top of the mountain," manager Mike Scioscia said after pitchers and catchers reported. "We're taking the angle of being back down at the bottom of that ladder, and we want to climb every rung with the same focus and determination that we used last year."

CANSECO IN TROUBLE: An arrest warrant was issued for six-time All-Star Jose Canseco for violating his probation that stemmed from a nightclub brawl. Circuit Judge Leonard E. Glick in Miami issued the warrant after being told Canseco, who played for seven teams, including the Rays, has failed to begin community service, take anger control classes and not leave Florida for more than than 30 days. Canseco's attorney, Angel Ruiz, said his client will appear before Glick at an arraignment Tuesday. Canseco, 38, and his twin brother, Ozzie, fought two men at the Opium Gardens nightclub in Miami Beach in 2001.

CARDINALS: Reliever Jason Isringhausen probably will start the season on the disabled list as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

MARLINS: Kevin Millar was returned to the team after the Japanese team with which he agreed to sign last month released him, and Florida is expected to trade him to the Red Sox.

Millar agreed in early January to a $6.2-million, two-year contract with Chunichi of Japan's Central League, and the Marlins released him in exchange for a $1.2-million payment from the Dragons.

Under Friday's agreement, the Dragons will get an undisclosed payment, the commissioner's office said. The Associated Press reported the amount would be between $1.2-million and $1.5-million.

While the agreement makes Millar eligible for salary arbitration, the trade to Boston and a contract agreement between the player and the Red Sox appeared likely to happen quickly.

Millar, 31, led the Marlins with a .306 average last season, hitting 16 homers with 57 RBIs.

ORIOLES: Pitcher Sidney Ponson avoided arbitration by signing a one-year contract for a guaranteed $4.25-million. Ponson asked for $4.75-million, and the team offered $3.9-million.

RANGERS: Texas agreed to terms with pitchers Rob Bell and Ryan Drese, infielder Hank Blalock and outfielder Laynce Nix on one-year contracts. No terms were announced. Bell was 4-3 with a 6.22 ERA in 17 games, including 15 starts, with the Rangers last season. Drese went 10-9 with a 6.55 ERA in 26 starts for Cleveland. Blalock batted .211 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 49 games with Texas. Nix was the MVP of the Florida State League.

ROYALS: Carlos Beltran lost in arbitration. The centerfielder will make $6-million this season instead of the $6.95-million he sought.

TIGERS: A former flight attendant who said she was sexually harassed by players on a team flight in 2000 was awarded $200,000 by a federal jury in Detroit. Lisa Kesner, 38, said several players subjected her to lewd comments and inappropriate touching and displayed pornography on a laptop computer.

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