The Tigers are leaving open the possibility that a long-shot could make their roster out of Spring Training. "I think there's a real chance," manager Jim Leyland said. "But I don't want everyone to come in like a bull in a china shop thinking, 'I have to make this team.' "That backfires on guys."

The Nationals are reportedly interested in Gerardo Parra, but the Diamondbacks aren't currently willing to deal him. "I like it here," the outfielder said of Arizona. "I like the fans, the organization, everything. I'm not thinking about getting traded. I'm concentrating on getting ready for the season."

It was reported on Tuesday that Bobby Abreu had given the Angels an ultimatum -- play me everyday or trade me. However, general manager Jerry Dipoto, who spoke with Abreu in recent weeks, says the veteran slugger hasn't communicated the sentiment to the team. "I spoke to Bobby a little more than a week ago, I'd say -- a week, 10 days ago -- and walked through his current situation, and Mike [Scioscia] has had very similar conversations," Dipoto said. "So, Bobby is aware of the circumstances, he's aware of the people on the roster. We do see a fit for Bobby on this club, he's aware of where that fit is. It's not something that we're going to play it [out] in the media. ... Whether it's an ultimatum that's been issued, he has no right to do that." Abreu is owed $9 million in the final year of his contract this season. Sources have indicated that there has been no outside interest in his services.

If the Angels don't have an everyday position for Bobby Abreu, he wants the team to trade him by Opening Day. "I'm an everyday player. I can still be in the lineup for a Major League team," Abreu said from Venezuela. "I will not be on the bench knowing that I can play. "If the Angels don't have a position for me, then the best thing is to trade me. It would be the correct (thing) to do. I won't be able to do nothing sitting in the bench." Abreu doesn't appear to currently have a role with the Angels other than as an occasional outfielder and pinch hitter.

It was reported over the weekend that the Phillies made an attempt at the last minute to acquire A.J. Burnett from the Yankees. New York's deal with Pittsburgh for the right-hander became official on Sunday night. The Phillies tried to trade Joe Blanton to the Angels for Bobby Abreu, according to sources. They then would have sent Abreu to the Yankees for Burnett.

After dealing with the uncertain futures of Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran in his first year as general manager of the Mets, Sandy Alderson now has to deal with David Wright. Wright has a $16 million team option for next year. "I think that his future is independent of club performance," Alderson said. "There are certain decisions that one takes that are a function of where a team is at a particular time and so forth, but if there's anybody on the team whose performance and future is independent of the club's performance, I think it's David's." Alderson also shied away from comparisons to Reyes. After an MVP-caliber first half of the season, New York held onto the shortstop before he left in free agency. "I hate to make comparisons to Jose because he's not here right now," he said. "So I'm not sure that would be a good basis for comparison. David's future is a function of a lot of different things and only one of those is team performance - and I'm not sure that's very high on the list."

The Phillies showed some late interest in trading for A.J. Burnett. Philadelphia was interested in completing a three-team deal with New York that would have sent Joe Blanton to a third club. The Phillies believe that Burnett is a better option than Blanton.

The Red Sox are hoping to acquire a quality prospect from the Cubs as compensation for allowing Theo Epstein to go to Chicago, according to a Major League source. Boston is resigned to not getting a major leaguer from Chicago and they acknowledge it probably won't be a premium prospect -- like Brett Jackson or Josh Vitters.

The Pirates and Yankees have agreed on a trade involving A.J. Burnett, but it is not yet official. The agreement needs to be approved by the commissioner's office because of the money involved. Pittsburgh will pay $13 million of the $31.1 million remaining on Burnett's contract, according to sources. Approval was not given on Friday night because the deal was finalized too late in the day.

The Athletics and Rangers are nearing an agreement on a trade involving reliever Koji Uehara, according to a report. Oakland has been looking for a reliever and has been linked to free-agent Mike Gonzalez.