Cardinals’ Jaime Garcia backtracks on ‘starting pitcher’ declaration
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:56 am ET) Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia clarified his recent comments, telling reporters now that he’s preparing to be a starter, but is open to any role on the staff, per MLB.com.

“My point wasn’t to come in here and say, ‘If I’m not a starting pitcher, I’m not going to go to the bullpen,'” Garcia said. “I never meant for it to sound like that.

“What I meant to say is that I prepare myself to be [a starter], but I’m coming here to compete and win a spot on the team. If it comes down to being something else besides a starting pitcher, then I’ll be happy to do that.

“I’ve never [pitched in relief] in my life. That’s my point. I didn’t prepare this offseason to be a bullpen guy or be a closer. I prepared myself to be a starting pitcher, get my pitch count up. But obviously coming in here, I’m trying to earn a spot to pitch in the Major Leagues in April. I want to let my work out there do the talking. That was my whole point.”

Garcia had surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome in July, and was able to get through a normal offseason. He’s not expected to have any restrictions this spring.

Mets SP Zack Wheeler skips first workout due to illness
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:49 am ET) Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler missed the team’s first workout on Saturday because of an illness, reports ESPN. The ailment is not expected to keep the 24-year-old right-hander sidelined for much longer during camp.

Wheeler went 11-11 with a 3.54 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and a 187:79 K:BB ratio over 185 1/3 innings in 2014.

Yankees SP David Carpenter working on adding splitter to arsenal
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:36 am ET) Yankees pitcher David Carpenter told reporters he is working on adding a splitter to compliment his fastball and slider this season, according to NJ.com.

“It’s something I’ve toyed with in the past,” Carpenter said. “It’s something I haven’t really had a whole lot of success with. So I kind of put it on the back burner for a while. He (pitching coach Larry Rothschild) and I talked about it shortly after I had been traded. He asked about all the pitches I’ve thrown. I said something about the splitter, and that it wasn’t a main pitch. But he said, ‘I think I can help you with that.’ So getting to come down here and getting to talk with him and seeing what I could do with it.”

Carpenter went 6-4 with a 3.54 ERA and three saves in 65 outings for Atlanta in 2014. He is 11-10 with a 3.62 ERA over four seasons in the majors.

Report: Blazek, Jungmann candidates for ‘sixth’ rotation spot
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:17 am ET) Brewers pitcher Michael Blazek will stretch out as a starter this spring and compete with Taylor Jungmann for the “sixth” spot in the rotation, according to MLB.com.

Blazek, 25, posted a 5.71 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP through 17 1/3 innings in 2014. Jungmann, 25 has yet to make his MLB debut. He went 12-10 with a 3.57 ERA in 153 2/3 innings pitched between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville last season.

Royals INF Omar Infante deadling with inflammation in right elbow
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:09 am ET) Royals infielder Omar Infante told the Kansas City Star he felt some soreness in his arm during throwing sessions before he arrived to camp. Infante also revealed he has some inflammation in his right elbow.

Infante dealt with a shoulder issue in the final stretch of the season, including the playoffs. It remains to be seen if his elbow inflammation is connected to his previous shoulder issues. He hit .252 with six home runs, 21 doubles and 66 RBI in 135 games for Kansas City last season.

Orioles C Matt Wieters throwing from approximately 120 feet
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:06 am ET) Orioles catcher Matt Wieters completed a long toss session from approximately 120 feet on Saturday, reports the Baltimore Sun.

Wieters, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, has been throwing on back-to-back days, but took the day off on Friday before resuming on Saturday. He is expected to serve as a designated hitter for the first half of March while he recovers from surgery.

Mariners’ Willie Bloomquist on knee; ‘They’ll ease me into things slowly’
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:01 am ET) Mariners shortstop Willie Bloomquist told reporters on Saturday that “they will ease me into things slowly, but I am ready to go,” per the Tacoma News Tribune.

Bloomquist had microfracture surgery on his right knee in August. He batted .278 in 47 games last season.

Mariners’ McClendon: Joe Saunders will work strictly in relief role
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:58 am ET) Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon told reporters that newly-signed left-hander Joe Saunders will work strictly in a relief role for the club, per MLB.com.

Saunders signed a minor-league contract with Seattle on Friday, with an invitation to big-league camp. The 33-year-old veteran went 0-5 with a 6.70 ERA last season, splitting his time between Texas and Baltimore.

Alejandro De Aza loses arbitration hearing against Orioles
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:53 am ET) Orioles outfielder Alejandro De Aza lost his arbitration hearing against the club, and will receive $5 million in 2015. He reportedly filed for $5.65 million, per the team’s official website.

Baltimore has now signed all of its arbitration-eligible players. De Aza, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time, is expected to report to camp later on Saturday.

De Aza hit .252/.314/.386 with eight home runs, 41 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 477 at-bats in 2014.

Yankees’ Sabathia still taking PRP shots to treat ‘degenerative’ knee
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:48 am ET) Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia told reporters that he’s still taking PRP injections to treat his “degenerative” knee condition, according to Newsday. Sabathia revealed that his surgically-repaired knee feels good and that he’s ready to do “everything.”

“I’m ready to do PFP and everything. I won’t be running very fast, but I can run,” Sabathia said, per the New York Daily News.

Sabathia, 34, pitched just 46 innings in 2014, posting a 3-4 record with 48 strikeouts.