Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano was arrested and charged with drunken driving, but his team said he still could begin the season with the club. The 22-year-old left-hander was released on $500 bond, the Lee County Jail said. He is to return to Cape Coral for a court date that has not yet been set. "I made a mistake, and I'm going to pay for it," Liriano told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I'm really sorry for what happened."

According to ESPNdeportes.com, David Ortiz is close to signing a $50 million extension with the Red Sox. When the deal is complete, the MVP candidate will average $12.5 million a year from 2007 to 2010. "He is very happy, although there are still some details that need to be worked out," a source told the website.

GM Mark Shapiro said he'll be able to trade Brandon Phillips. It's just a matter of time. Phillips, thought to be the key to the Bartolo Colon deal, was cut Wednesday afternoon. He lost the race for the utility infielder's job to Ramon Vazquez. "We're already working with teams and exchanging names," said Shapiro.

On Friday, Melvin Mora's self-imposed deadline for a contract extension will pass. The third baseman is scheduled to meet with Orioles owner Peter Angelos before the exhibition game against the Washington Nationals. "Hopefully, it's good for both parties," he said. Mora then joked: "That's a good decision to talk to the man who is going to pay me." Orioles Vice President Jim Duquette didn't necessarily think that Mora's situation was going to be resolved Friday. "I don't want to put any deadlines on it," Duquette said. "I think it's an opportunity for Melvin to sit down and talk to the owner. I know what Melvin has said, but I think it's important to continue the dialogue. I don't think we should be putting any deadlines even though all along we felt they were arbitrary deadlines. The agent has said all along that, as long as we have productive conversations, we'll keep the dialogue going. There's no need to call it off as long as there is any reason to do it."

Ray Durham has no doubts his tender left foot will be healthy in time for San Francisco's season opener Monday at San Diego. The Giants second baseman was scratched from this past Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals in Arizona because of plantar fasciitis in his foot, a problem that bothered him for most of spring training.

Steve Finley criticized commissioner Bud Selig's timing for an investigation into steroids launched Thursday, only five days before the start of the regular season. The San Francisco outfielder questioned whether baseball officials succumbed to pressure to react after last week's release of "Game of Shadows," a book by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters detailing the alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs by Giants slugger Barry Bonds and other players. "It seems if you write a book about something, there's going to be an investigation," Finley said. "It seems that has followed the publishing of the book. I don't think that's right. You didn't hear anything about this until the book was written."

Anna Benson has requested a divorce from Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kris Benson, who still believes the Mets traded him in response to actions by his impulsive wife. Anna Benson, an actress and model who has posed topless, filed for divorce in Atlanta on Thursday. The petition for divorce claims the marriage is "irretrievably broken." The couple has been married for seven years. Kris Benson initially protested the deal that sent him to the Orioles. But now he thinks the Mets did him a favor. "I was a little upset because I enjoyed my time in New York and I feel like they had a good team coming into the season," Benson said in a recent interview. "But now that I realize the opportunity I have, it's going to be a good career move for me."

Rangers pitcher Adam Eaton is considering surgery on his right middle finger and is expecting to miss the first three months of the season. The Rangers are planning to replace him in the rotation with right-hander Juan Dominguez, who was 4-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 10 starts last year but lost his spot to R.A. Dickey this spring. "He was a candidate to be a fifth starter and he was here late in camp for a reason," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to go to our protection starters this early, but that's happened."

The Brewers placed right-hander Ben Sheets on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to March 24, it was announced today by Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin. Sheets, 27, was placed on the disabled list with a right posterior shoulder strain. He made two starts this spring going 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA. He will be eligible to come off the disabled list on April 8.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Julian Tavarez has been suspended for 10 days and fined an undisclosed amount for his violent and unsportsmanlike actions during the top of the eighth inning of his club's Spring Training game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on March 27 at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. Unless appealed, Tavarez's suspension is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 3. If appealed, his suspension will be held in abeyance until the appeal process is complete.