Players, owners nearing consensus on drug policy

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.

This 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Guillen and Baltimore's Jay Gibbons in December after being linked to performance-enhancing drugs most likely would be rescinded as part of an overall amnesty for players mentioned in the report, two people familiar with the talks said Monday.

Mitchell, a Boston Red Sox director, recommended Commissioner Bud Selig not punish players implicated in his report "except in those cases where he determines that the conduct is so serious that discipline is necessary to maintain the integrity of the game."

If there isn't an agreement, arbitrator Shyam Das probably would be asked to decide whether to stay Guillen's suspension pending a grievance hearing. The players association filed a grievance on behalf of the outfielder, but no hearing dates have been scheduled.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported in November that Guillen bought human growth hormone, two types of testosterone and the steroids stanozolol and nandrolone from 2002-05, allegations Guillen has declined to address.

Gibbons admitted receiving a HGH shipment in January 2005. The Baltimore outfielder apologized and didn't contest the penalty.

Twins extend Nathan: Joe Nathan is staying with the Minnesota Twins rather than following Johan Santana, Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva out of town.

Nathan and the Twins agreed to terms Monday on a $47 million, four-year contract, a deal that includes a 2012 club option on the 33-year-old closer.

Nathan was slated to make $6 million in 2008, far less than several ace relievers around the majors. Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees got a $45 million, three-year contract in November, and Francisco Cordero signed a $46 million, four-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds after becoming a free agent.

Frandsen injured: San Francisco Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen ruptured his left Achilles' tendon in a minor-league game and could miss the entire season.

Frandsen, expected to be a utility infielder and perhaps start at times at second base, injured his leg while rounding second on a basehit after reaching on a single.