Don't count Vernon Wells out of Toronto's outfield mix so soon.

Manager Buck Martinez gave the customary company line -- "everybody's job is up for grabs" -- but he also said Wells could see more time in the outfield than at DH. Martinez also provided added credence when he assessed Wells' potential in center field, currently manned by Jose Cruz Jr.

Vernon Wells hopes to finally reach a full-time role with the Blue Jays.(AP)

To be fair, Martinez added that Wells will have to "overwhelm" his more experienced outfielders -- Cruz, Raul Mondesi and Shannon Stewart -- in order to earn a spot in center or left, where Stewart is the weakest of the group defensively.

Wells' versatility works against him, since the Jays can use him in any of the three spots to rest their regulars. But judging from Martinez's praise, Wells already has a head start on making the necessary impression.

The entire outfield situation comes as a surprise to many who expected the Blue Jays to trade Mondesi, Cruz or Stewart for pitching help at last summer's deadline or this offseason. New GM J.P. Ricciardi's failure to do so essentially forced manager Buck Martinez to improvise. Fortunately, Ricciardi dealt reigning DH Brad Fullmer to open a spot in the lineup.

That does nothing to solve the debate over who should bat leadoff.

Stewart posted a .370 on-base percentage in 101 games atop the Toronto order last season, but also showed promise batting in the third spot. And the Jays could use another productive bat in the middle of the order where Fullmer used to bat. Wells has bounced around the lineup in his 57-game big-league career but has the speed and eye for leadoff. He might also fit in batting second behind Stewart.

Welcome back Kapler

Speaking of overcrowded outfields, Rangers manager Jerry Narron might have the solution to finding playing time for Gabe Kapler.

Kapler, who lost his starting role in center field to Carl Everett, should play more games than his competitors in left field, according to Narron.

Even if Kapler, Frank Catalanotto and Rusty Greer evenly share the 324 available starts in left field and at DH, that would give Kapler 108 starts, the Dallas Morning News pointed out. Add onto that the starts he could earn filling in for Everett and Gonzalez, even if just to give them a rest, and the muscle-bound Kapler should at least approach his totals of 134 games and 483 at-bats from last year.

"I think I'm going to play an awful lot," said Kapler, who has yet to record 500 at-bats in a season. "I think I'm going to play every day. The two things I want are to win and to play every day."

Judging by the current roster, the only scenario in which Kapler plays that much involves an extended injury to Everett or Gonzalez ... or both. If either Everett or Gonzalez are out of the lineup for long, it could be very difficult for the Rangers and Kapler to win with Kapler playing every day.

"I can't tell you how," Narron said, "but at some point, they will all get their at-bats."

The same cannot be said in relation to Rob Bell and his starts. Bell, who made 18 starts for the Rangers last year without missing a turn in the rotation following his June trade from Cincinnati, might be moved to the bullpen.

The Morning News reports that new pitching coach Oscar Acosta has grouped Bell with relievers Hector Carrasco, Dan Miceli, Chris Michalak, Bill Pulsipher, Rudy Seanez and Anthony Telford for a transition to relief work.

Run, Red Sox, run

With Rickey Henderson and Johnny Damon added to camp, the Red Sox will spend part of spring camp practicing an unfamiliar strategy -- base stealing.

The Providence Journal quotes outfielder Trot Nixon, who has stolen 19 bases in 410 major-league games, saying Kerrigan told him of the plan Sunday. Nixon, Damon and Nomar Garciaparra will also reportedly have the green light to choose their situations to run during spring games.

The Red Sox finished last in the majors with 46 stolen bases last season, 10 under Ichiro's major-league leading individual total. In fact, Boston attempted fewer steals than 21 other teams made.

Notes

• With Mike Matheny entrenched as the Cardinals' starting catcher and trade talks dried up, manager Tony La Russa said he might expand backup catcher Eli Marrero's role as an outfielder. Marrero played 15 games in the outfield last year, eight in left field and seven in right. He also has 35 career games played at first base. That combination could become bad news for Eduardo Perez as La Russa seeks versatility off his bench to replace Craig Paquette.
• Dusty Baker refuses to reveal his plans for the Giants rotation, including whether Russ Ortiz or Jason Schmidt will be his ace. The fifth spot poses more possibilities, but Jay Witasick has become a surprise candidate. The hard-throwing right-hander didn't start a game last year but made 25 of them in 2000, including two complete games. That said, he boasts a career ERA of 5.79 in 56 starts.
• New Red Sox owner John Henry denied reports that he'll move the club to the Marlins' current spring training complex he owns in Melbourne once Jeffrey Loria moves the Marlins to his complex in Jupiter, now used by the Expos. Henry told the Palm Beach Post that three teams have inquired about moving to Melbourne though he didn't name the clubs. Most likely they start with the Orioles, who would love to leave their antiquated facility in Fort Lauderdale, and the Indians, whose lease at Winter Haven is up next year. The Indians have already asked about Fort Myers if the Sox leave. The Mets will also consider hopping into the Marlins' complex once the Mets' lease expires after this spring, but the Melbourne/Viera metroplex isn't likely to attract many more New Yorkers than Port St. Lucie has.
• If there's really something to these maple bats that Barry Bonds used to hit 73 home runs last year, here comes a solid test case. Ben Grieve, whose power was sapped last year in an 11-homer season, has switched to maple, which for other players have meant fewer broken bats and more of a comfort level. Grieve is going with a Texas company called D-Bats rather than the Canadian manufacturer Bonds and others have used.
• The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Indians manager Charlie Manuel has three choices at leadoff hitter -- ex-Oriole Brady Anderson, ex-Met Matt Lawton and ex-productive hitter Omar Vizquel. Lawton is a surprise possibility considering he could also hit third in the lineup, where Roberto Alomar used to bat. If he moves to leadoff, Manuel said, Ellis Burks could move to the third spot.
• The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Rangers GM John Hart and agent Jeff Moorad have agreed not to discuss a new contract for Ivan Rodriguez until the end of the season, even though Rodriguez can become a free agent next winter. That suggests Pudge won't be on the trading block this summer regardless of the Rangers' fortunes.
• White Sox manager Jerry Manuel told the Chicago Tribune he's "toying" with the notion of moving Durham into the third spot in the batting order now that Kenny Lofton has taken over at leadoff. Durham's move would force Frank Thomas into the cleanup hitter. Considering how poorly the Big Hurt reacted to such minute changes as switching from DH to first base, his move down in the order should prove interesting.

Quotable

"Do you carry your yearbook with you, too?" -- Bret Boone upon seeing former college teammate Jeff Cirillo at Mariners camp wearing a USC t-shirt.