Posted by Timm Davis on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 12:09 pm

…It was just last season he was nailed for a 50 game suspension and HGH talk, now it looks like Atlanta Braves outfield prospect Jordan Schafer could be patrolling center field for the Braves come opening day. He even admits that the suspension threw him off his game last season, when he started to fade during the second half of the season. [Yahoo]

“It did knock me off track,” Schafer said, “and took me a while to get past it. But I think I showed everybody they don’t have anything to worry about. I came back and finished strong in Mississippi last season, I went to Mexico and played winter ball, and I’ve done well here.

“Anybody that had doubts, I think I’ve put them to rest.”

…The Washington Nationals have rounded out there rotation with Shairon Martis and Jordan Zimmerman. To make room on the 40 man roster for both pitchers Willy Mo Pena was put on waivers, and reassigned Corey Patterson and Jose Castillo to minor league camp. [CBS]

…Catcher Ronny Paulino once again finds himself with a new team, first he was traded in December from the Pirates to the Phillies and now he’s been sent to San Fransisco in exchange for pitcher Jack Taschner. In Phillies camp, Paulino was competing with Chris Coste for the back up job and was likely not to make the 25 man opening day roster. In San Fransisco he has a better chance to back up Bengie Molina. But his adventure doesn’t end there, about 24 hours after this deal was done, Paulino was sent packing to the Florida Marlins for minor league pitcher Hector Correa. [CBS]

…According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the Pirates are starting to talk contract extension with shortstop Jack Wilson. Apparently it was Wilson that expressed interest in a extension and to stay with the club past his current contract. Though do to the current economic times, he may have to take a pay cut. He’s scheduled to make $7.25 million this season with a club option for 2010 that’s over $8 million. [Post-Gazette]

…Yankees new first baseman Mark Teixeira was recently on WFAN in New York and said that the Yankees were always the front runners for his services this offseason. [LA Times]

“I always had the Yankees in my sights, and one thing my agent and I had asked every single team is, we’re not going to negotiate through the media, and we ask you not to. The Yankees were really the only team that did that. The other teams went out and told everybody their offers, told everybody that they talked to me, that they made this call, made that trip. The Yankees kept quiet. We talked all winter. When they were ready to make their final offer, it was a great offer, and my wife and I were excited about going to New York.”

…The Detroit Tigers have placed pitchers Joel Zumya and Dontrell Willis on the disabled list this weekend. Zumya was placed on the DL after experiencing soreness in his pitching shoulder. Willis on the other hand was placed there do to a an anxiety disorder. [CBS]

…According to GM Brian Cashman, A-Rod wont return to Yankees camp in Tampa until after the team has packed up shot and headed north for their two exhibition in the new Yankee Stadium. A-Rod is still re-habing his surgically repaired him in Colorado. [CBS]