More talk of drugs

Lawyers for baseball players and owners hope to reach an agreement on changes in their drug agreement before most teams start the regular season, culminating talks that began following recommendations in December’s Mitchell Report.

The sides planned to talk this week in Arizona during the final week of spring training. It would be the third time players and owners toughened drug rules since their initial agreement in August 2002.

The sides also made changes in January 2005, when sanctions for first offenders were instituted, and in November 2005, when the penalty for an initial positive test was increased from 10 days to 50 games.

If they strike a deal, the 15-day suspensions imposed on Kansas City’s Jose Guillen and Baltimore’s Jay Gibbons in December after being linked to performance-enhancing drugs most likely would be rescinded as part of an overall amnesty for players mentioned in the report, two people familiar with the talks said Monday.

Washburn sharp for M’s

Jarrod Washburn started Monday with a sore back and finished with his best outing of the spring.

Washburn tossed seven shutout innings after waking up with soreness in his lower back, leading the Seattle Mariners past the Chicago White Sox 3-1 at Peoria, Ariz.

Washburn lowered his ERA to 2.42.

Ichiro Suzuki, who went into the final week of spring training with the lowest batting average among Seattle’s everyday players, went 2 for 3 with a double and two stolen bases and Adrian Beltre added two hits as the Mariners snapped a four-game winless streak.

Wood named closer

Kerry Wood once struck out 20 batters. Now, he’ll finish off opponents.

As expected, the Chicago Cubs made Wood their closer, and Jason Marquis got the nod as the fifth starter.

“I appreciate the fact I’ve been given another chance to get out there and play the game I love,” Wood said. “I’m going to take full advantage of it.”

Westbrook remains hot

Jake Westbrook struck out eight over six perfect innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the Atlanta Braves 8-0.

Westbrook struck out the side in the first and extended his scoreless streak to 14 innings over four spring starts. The right-hander has yet to yield a run, allowing only five hits while striking out 16.

Clearing the bases

Joe Nathan and the Minnesota Twins agreed to terms on a $47 million, four-year contract, a deal which includes a 2012 club option on the 33-year-old closer. … Phillies closer Brad Lidge will start the regular season on the 15-day disabled list while he rehabilitates his knee following arthroscopic surgery.