Uribe free for training camp

Accused of shooting a Dominican farmer in October, Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe has received permission from a judge to attend spring training in Tucson.

Under the judge's ruling, Uribe will no longer have to appear in court twice a month for the remainder of the case. Instead, he must put down a $15,400 deposit guaranteeing he will make his next scheduled court appearance, slated for March 17 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.

"I am going to training tomorrow," Uribe said yesterday. "I feel satisfied with the court's decision and I am ready to present myself when it's necessary."

The farmer, Antonio Gonzalez Perez, accused Uribe of shooting him after an argument near the shortstop's hometown. An Italian man who also was shot did not file charges.

One day after Ichiro Suzuki put the Seattle Mariners on notice that he is intrigued with entering free agency after this season, manager Mike Hargrove said the issue will not distract his team.

Unless his franchise player allows it to, that is.

"It depends on how much of a distraction he lets it be," Hargrove said after Suzuki acknowledged he is looking beyond his $44 million, four-year contract ending this fall -- and looking for Seattle to approach him with a contract offer.

"Knowing Ichiro the two years I've known him, it won't be a distraction at all," Hargrove said.

Yet Hargrove believes it was natural for Suzuki to have thoughts about leaving Seattle and becoming a free agent for the first time.

Suzuki said immediate Seattle improvement -- as in, beginning in April -- from three consecutive last-place finishes in the AL West is a must for him to consider re-signing. His price could reach $20 million per season.

San Diego second baseman Todd Walker and Washington closer Chad Cordero won their salary hearings. Walker, who played for the Red Sox in 2003, will get an increase from $2.5 million to $3.95 million instead of the Padres' $2.75 million offer. Cordero received a raise to $4.15 million from $525,000 instead of the club's offer of $3.65 million . . . Omar Vizquel plans to play through the 2009 season. The 11-time Gold Glove shortstop turns 40 in April, and would like to set up informal meetings with Giants general manager Brian Sabean this spring . . . Manager Joe Torre and the core of Yankees' players that won four World Series titles with Bernie Williams are resigned to the outfielder's absence. "It will happen to all of us," catcher Jorge Posada said. Williams rejected the Yankees offer of a minor league contract.