The Associated Press

MESA, Ariz. - Sammy Sosa brushed aside questions about steroid use in baseball, saying he doesn't know what other players are doing and can't control anyone but himself.

His only concern is getting the Chicago Cubs to the World Series.

"I really don't want to make a comment about that because we've got a beautiful team here," he said when asked about steroids following his first spring training workout Tuesday. "We've got something else in mind, to come here and play baseball. I don't want to make a comment because I don't have anything to talk about."

Asked if he understood why the questions remain, particularly for Bonds, Sosa distanced himself.

"That's something that Barry Bonds has to deal with himself. I don't want to even think about it," said Sosa, who doesn't look any different than he has in recent years. "I don't really know and I don't want to know. I know myself, I know who I am and that's it."

RED SOX: Nomar Garciaparra settled into the familiar redwood picnic bench where he makes his annual remarks upon arriving at spring training.

"The seat still fits," he said with a smile. "Can you believe after these three months I'm still here?"

He figured he would be traded when the Red Sox closed in on a deal that would have brought another star shortstop, Alex Rodriguez, to Boston, for left fielder Manny Ramirez. Boston was prepared to send Garciaparra to the Chicago White Sox.

"I was definitely hurt by a lot of it. I probably feel like anyone else would feel after spending their whole career in one organization," Garciaparra said of seeing on television that the Red Sox planned to trade him away.

He's entering his ninth major league season, all with Boston, with a .323 career average and two AL batting titles.

"For the next eight months my priority is to go out there to try to win a World Series," he said. "I'm excited that my socks are still red."

DODGERS: Jose Canseco plans to try out for the team 2 1/2 years after his last appearance in the major leagues.

The six-time All-Star will attend the team's open tryout March 1.

"Canseco's people called us," Matt Slater, the Dodgers' director of professional scouting, said. "He's welcome to come."

Canseco last played in the majors in 2001, when he hit .258 with 16 homers for the White Sox.

SHORT HOPS: Luis Martinez was released from police custody Tuesday after being cleared in a shooting that left a man hospitalized. The left-hander was claimed by St. Louis on Monday off waivers from Milwaukee.

• New Phillies closer Billy Wagner will be sidelined for a week with an inflamed finger that caused pain during a workout.

• Outfielder Jay Buhner will be inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame Aug. 24 at Safeco Field.