Valentin Stages One-Day Protest

Shortstop-turned-second baseman John Valentin repeated his request to be traded Monday, but said he will return to the Boston Red Sox camp - after a symbolic, one-day protest - to begin working at his new position.

“I am a professional. I am not a baby. It’s time to come in here and turn the page, and I’m ready to play,” he said Monday outside the City of Palms Park batting cages in Fort Myers, Fla. “When I put on my uniform (today), I will be out there just to play baseball, and every other thought will be out of my mind.”

Valentin, a four-year starter and one of the best-hitting shortstops in baseball, was given a 48-hour furlough on Saturday after manager Jimy Williams told him he would be moved to second base to make room for prospect Nomar Garciaparra.

Mariners blow big lead

Kirt Manwaring singled home the game-winning run in the top of the ninth as the Colorado Rockies came back from a 6-0 deficit to beat Seattle 7-6 in a spring game in Peoria, Ariz., despite four three-hit shutout innings from Bob Wolcott.

On Sunday, the first day single-game tickets went on sale, the Mariners sold a club-record 51,000 seats - including all but 800 of those remaining for opening night. By comparison, last season Seattle sold 16,000 seats the first day single-game tickets were available.

Sims presents stadium package

King County Executive Ron Sims sent to the Seattle County Council a bond package for the new Mariners stadium. It calls for sale and issuance of $336 million in bonds to help pay for construction of the ballpark and an adjoining garage.

The funds will initially be placed in an escrow account until the state Supreme Court rules on a legal challenge to the issuance of the bonds.

Sims said an increase in bond interest rates would cost taxpayers millions more in financing costs over the term of the bonds.