Believe It: Johnson Will Pitch Opener

Manager Lou Piniella said it 10 days ago, general manager Woody Woodward has said it for weeks Randy Johnson likely will be Seattle’s opening night starter this season.

And now the team most often rumored to be in pursuit of Johnson, the Los Angeles Dodgers, has chimed in.

“It’s not going to happen,” Dodgers general manager Fred Claire said Wednesday about a possible deal.

A few hours after that, comments by a reporter on KIRO radio implied that sources with the Mariners said the team was restructuring contracts in order to offer Johnson an extension. Seattle executives emphatically denied the report - but the Associated Press picked it up and, without contacting the Mariners, sent it across the nation.

Though not an “official” Cactus League encounter, the Mariners and San Diego Padres will play the first exhibition game of the spring today at noon.

Starting pitchers will be Andy Ashby for San Diego and Johnson for Seattle.

Angels bag McDowell

Former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell, who sat out most of last season with an elbow injury, has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Anaheim Angels.

McDowell, who underwent minor surgery on his right elbow May 20, was expected to miss about a month but sat out the remainder of the season. The Cleveland Indians declined to exercise his $4.8 million option for this season.

“I really don’t think my value as far as being a workhorse has dropped and my health isn’t an issue at all,” McDowell said.

First baseman Darin Erstad, the first overall selection in the 1995 free-agent draft, has agreed to terms of a four-year contract with the Angels.

Erstad, 23, hit .299 with 34 doubles, four triples, 16 homers, 99 runs scored, 77 RBIs and 23 stolen bases last season - his first full year in the big leagues.

Frye faces surgery

His season over before it began, the words came slowly for Jeff Frye as he rubbed the brace running nearly the entire length of his left leg.

“It’s pretty devastating,” the Red Sox second baseman said, sitting in the sun outside Boston’s clubhouse. “It’s just something else I’ll have to overcome.”

The official diagnosis - one he knew was coming - came Wednesday. Tests on his left knee showed he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral cartilage during a rundown drill Tuesday.

He is expected to undergo reconstructive surgery and miss the entire season.

Nomo tests his deuce

Hideo Nomo used his entire repertoire while throwing 50 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday, but the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher won’t appear in an exhibition game for another week.

Recovering from off-season surgery on his pitching elbow, Nomo threw 25 pitches and took a short break. Then, he took a few warmup tosses before throwing 25 more pitches.

The 29-year-old right-hander attempted more curveballs than usual, pitching coach Glenn Gregson said.

“We’re encouraging him to throw more curves,” Gregson said. “With the stuff he has, he only needs to have an average major league curveball.”