Mark Langston is saying goodbye to baseball, five months after reaching the World Series for the first time,
Langston, 38, was 178-156 with a 3.88 ERA in 15 seasons with Seattle, Montreal, the Angels and the Padres, finishing with 2,421 strikeouts, 27th on the career list."I have no regrets," he said Monday after making his announcement in Peoria, Ariz. "I was able to get to the World Series with this team last year. It's something I'll never forget. It's just time to walk away."
Mark Wohlers, whose career seemed almost over last summer, is getting a chance to take back his old job -- closer for the Atlanta Braves.
Kerry Ligtenberg, who closed last season after Wohlers lost his control, said Monday he will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament.
Ligtenberg, obtained by Atlanta from the independent Prairie League for six dozen baseballs and two dozen bats, converted 30 of 34 save chances, going 3-2 with a 2.71 ERA as a rookie last year.
On March 12, Ligtenberg was diagnosed with a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament. He has not thrown since and decided on surgery after an examination Monday by the Braves' orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Joe Chandler.
"He gave me three choices -- wait three more weeks and try to throw, throw right now, and the third choice was to go get the surgery," Ligtenberg said in Kissimmee, Fla. "I figured I'd do it now. That would put me out 12 months and I'll be ready to go next season."
Wohlers pitched a perfect ninth inning Monday -- throwing 10 of 12 pitches for strikes -- for his first save of the spring as Atlanta beat Florida 3-2.
"The way I feel right now, I would expect to get the ball," Wohlers said. "But John Rocker, Rudy Seanez and Mike Cather are also pitching well."
Wohlers was sent to the minors last season when he couldn't find the plate, but he has been getting better with each spring outing. In his last three appearances, Wohlers has thrown four scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to 5.63.
"Right now, if we had to start the season today, I don't know why we wouldn't open up with him as the closer," manager Bobby Cox said. "It's been an amazing turnaround. Who knows what the odds were? He certainly has beaten them."
At Mesa, Ariz., Sammy Sosa hit his major league-leading 10th home run of the spring and drove in four runs in the Chicago Cubs' 9-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
"I'm using my hips and my body a little more and staying behind the ball," said Sosa, who moved one homer ahead of Mark McGwire. "That's why I'm hitting the ball hard."
At Tampa, Fla., Darryl Strawberry's return to the New York Yankees from cancer was put on hold when manager Joe Torre told the outfielder he will remain at extended spring training, then go to Triple-A Columbus after he completes his chemotherapy at the end of April.
"It's just another mountain that I have to climb. I'll get over it," said Strawberry, who had colon cancer surgery last October.
At Phoenix, Kenny Rogers said he will not start against the Yankees on opening night in Oakland next Monday to give him more time to rebuild his arm strength after a bout of elbow tendinitis.
Either Jimmy Haynes or Tom Candiotti will likely get the assignment to face Roger Clemens.
With six days left until the Padres and Rockies play the season opener, there were three trades Monday:
-- San Diego acquired Phil Nevin from Anaheim for infielder Andy Sheets, giving the Padres catching depth after starter Carlos Hernandez went down for the season.
-- Tampa Bay dealt right-hander Jason Johnson to Baltimore for outfielder Danny Clyburn and a player to be named.
-- Florida sent outfielder Pat Watkins to Colorado for a player to be named.