VERO BEACH - Former Devil Ray Bubba Trammell laughed aloud while watching TV with teammates in the Dodgers clubhouse.
He has a new team - and a new outlook. Trammell acknowledged publicly for the first time Sunday that he left the Yankees and sat out the second half of last season because of depression.
The well-traveled outfielder played in only 22 games for New York before his season ended abruptly in June.
"Depression - that's what it was. It had nothing to do with anybody else but myself," said Trammell, who signed a one-year, $1.85-million contract with the Dodgers two months ago.
"I'm just glad I got through it. It was something I needed to take care of," he added in an interview with the Associated Press. "I'm looking forward to this year - big time. I'm going to have more fun this year than any year."
ATHLETICS: Left-hander Mark Mulder threw off a mound for the first time in more than a week and said he'll be ready to take his regular turn when spring training games start.
BRAVES: Coming back from the fourth elbow surgery of his career, closer John Smoltz said he "was about 90 percent" after throwing off the mound for the third time. He also called on Major League Baseball to adopt tougher steroid testing policies.
DIAMONDBACKS: Manager Bob Brenly is vowing to go with a set batting order this season, with soon-to-be-39-year-old Steve Finley at the top.
MARLINS: Josh Beckett will start the spring training opener Thursday against the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale. He should pitch about three innings.
METS: Shortstop Kaz Matsui will be sidelined for a week after injuring a finger on his throwing hand during infield drills. Matsui needed two stitches near the nail of the middle finger on his right hand after being hit by a grounder. His fingertip was cut, and the nail was bent back.
PADRES: A day after feeling discomfort in his left side, right-hander Jake Peavy felt better.
RED SOX: Pedro Martinez threw 49 pitches - fastballs, curves and changeups - all with pinpoint control as he pitched for the first time in 41/2 months.
TWINS: First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz returned to workouts after hyperextending his left knee Saturday during a fielding drill.
