The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball intends to go ahead with all its games in Toronto, despite a SARS outbreak there, but advised players to be cautious about personal hygiene.

"We have a lot of concerns, but we also don't want to overreact," commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome has killed 16 people in the Toronto area.

The Toronto Blue Jays begin a nine-game homestand today, hosting the Kansas City Royals.

SELIG TO STEP DOWN: Selig does not intend to seek a new term as baseball commissioner after his current deal expires in December 2006.

Selig, 67, became acting commissioner in September 1992 after the forced resignation of Fay Vincent. Selig agreed to a five-year term in July 1998. Owners then gave him a new five-year term in November 2001, a contract that expires Dec. 31, 2006.

HENDERSON SIGNS WITH MINOR-LEAGUE TEAM: Rickey Henderson wants another chance to reach the major leagues - even if it means starting over on the lowest rung of the minors.

The 44-year-old Henderson signed with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League on Wednesday, hoping it will help him attract interest from the majors sometime during the season.

ANOTHER THROWN CELL PHONE: San Diego Padres third basemen Sean Burroughs said he was hit by a cell phone thrown from the stands at Wrigley Field during Thursday's game.

Burroughs said the phone hit him in the right foot shortly after the Cubs' Mark Grudzielanek grounded out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

WHITE SOX MAKE CHANGES: Fans with upper-deck seats at Chicago White Sox home games won't be allowed into other levels of the ballpark unless they have season tickets.

The change was made Thursday after the team conducted an internal review of security and crowd management at U.S. Cellular Field.

INJURY REPORT: Orioles outfielder Marty Cordova had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. ... Tampa Bay outfielder Ben Grieve had surgery on his left thumb to determine the cause of an infection that required hospitalization last weekend. ... Oakland right fielder Jermaine Dye left the Athletics' game against Detroit after injuring a leg. Dye slipped while fielding a double by Dean Palmer in the fifth.