Even Schilling comes to camp

Fanning out across Florida, spreading out under the hot Arizona sun, pitchers and catchers took the field.

Spring training is really here.

Though, naturally, there was still plenty of talk Thursday about Roger Clemens’ testimony before Congress – and the haze of performance-enhancing drugs and contract negotiations.

But there was also a lot of talk about baseball – whether the New York Mets can avoid another late-season collapse, the young Colorado Rockies can make another postseason run, and aging stars like Tom Glavine and Curt Schilling can still win games.

Yes, even Schilling showed up for spring training, even though he won’t be ready for several months, if then. But there he was in Fort Myers, Fla., ready for rehab.

At Port St. Lucie, Fla., New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez said he knows his place in the Steroids Era.

“I dominated that era and I did it clean,” he said. “I can stand by my numbers.”

At Winter Haven, Fla., Cleveland Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said he doesn’t expect new contract talks with Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia until the 2008 season is over.

Meanwhile, first baseman Tony Clark and the San Diego Padres finalized a $900,000, one-year contract.

Johjima ponders future

Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima is entering the final year of a three-year, $16.5 million deal he signed with Seattle in 2006.

Will he play in Seattle next year?

“That’s a tough question,” Johjima said through an interpreter at camp in Peoria, Ariz. “I like Seattle, I like my teammates, I like my team, I like my coaches. … But that’s different from contracts.”

The 31-year-old, who signed with Seattle after 11 seasons in Japan, figures to be one of the top free agents next year if he doesn’t sign an extension.