Injury Will Keep Blue Jays' Wells Out Two Weeks

Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells expects to miss two weeks after an MRI exam showed he re-injured the left hamstring that kept him on the disabled list for a month late last season.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal," Wells said yesterday. "It's something that if I needed to get through it now, I could. But this time of the year, it's just basically get healthy and get ready for the season."

Wells injured his hamstring during drills on Monday.

Wells said the worst-case scenario would limit him to starting as designated hitter when the regular season begins April 6 against the Tigers.

-- ORIOLES: Outfielder Félix Pie finally got things started yesterday morning when he arrived at camp after being detained in the Dominican Republic. He apparently had to reapply for his visa after the Cubs traded him to the Orioles over the winter. He's expected to start in left field.

Baltimore opens its exhibition schedule today when it faces the Mets in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

-- YANKEES: Alex Rodriguez is prepared for the worst when he plays in today's spring training opener.

The game against Toronto will be his first since admitting that he used a banned substance while playing for Texas from 2001 to '03. He's used to playing before hostile fans.

"I've had good practice the last eight years," Rodriguez said. "No expectations. Hopefully I get three good at-bats and get some good running in."

He expects to meet soon with investigators from Major League Baseball, who want to speak with him before he joins the Dominican Republic for the World Baseball Classic. The Dominicans start workouts Monday.

-- BRAVES: Atlanta completed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with outfielder Garret Anderson after he passed a physical.

The 36-year-old Anderson had spent his entire 15-year career with the Angels, where he made three all-star appearances and batted .300 or better seven times.

The Braves had to go to a backup plan after an apparent deal for Ken Griffey Jr. fell through last week.

Even though Anderson was coming off a solid season -- he batted .293 with 15 homers and 84 RBI in 145 games -- he had to take a huge pay cut from the $12 million he made in the final year of his contract with the Angels.

-- MARINERS: Griffey could get a total of $5 million this year in his return to Seattle if he stays healthy and fans flock to see him.

The Mariners have layered performance bonuses based upon plate appearances and attendance that could net Griffey an additional $3 million -- on top of the $2 million in base salary that's in the one-year contract baseball's leading active home run hitter agreed to Saturday.

The 39-year-old Griffey could earn $3 million more if the Mariners have a paid attendance total of 3 million, he has 500 plate appearances and he does not go on the disabled list, according to salary figures obtained by the Associated Press.