The Associated Press

SURPRISE, Ariz. - Brian Jordan prepared for his morning workout with the Texas Rangers from the clubhouse locker closest to the back door, the one that used to be occupied by the MVP he had expected to be his teammate.

When Jordan signed in December, the Rangers had just ended two months of talks with Boston concerning Alex Rodriguez. But the American League MVP was traded to the New York Yankees the week before Jordan got to spring training.

"You get a great opportunity to play with a great player. You look forward to that," Jordan said. "So it caught me by surprise."

While Jordan is "really unsure" if his decision to join Texas would have been different if he'd known Rodriguez would be gone, the young Rangers need the veteran outfielder's bat, glove and leadership more than ever.

"You can tell already the weight that Brian's words carry," manager Buck Showalter said. "What I love about him, he's very selective about when he uses them . . . The other day when he spoke up, every head there jerked around to see what he had to say."

Jordan, who will turn 37 before opening day of his 13th major-league season, knows part of his role is to lead.

"I go about my job as far as leading by example, play hard and just hope guys follow," Jordan said. "When I need to speak, I speak, but I'll let my actions speak."

Jordan is a .287 career hitter who played in the World Series with Atlanta in 1999, the same season he was an All-Star. He also played three seasons in the NFL (1989-91) as a Falcons safety.

CUBS: Pitcher Mark Prior will miss five to 10 days of work because of an inflamed right Achilles' tendon. Prior, an 18-game winner last season, was injured during drills last week. An MRI revealed no tear, general manager Jim Hendry said.

DODGERS: Jose Canseco better hope the book he says he's writing is more successful than his performance in an open tryout.

Canseco probably wrote his final chapter in baseball at Monday's tryout, looking anything like the slugger who intimidated opposing pitchers in the late 1980s and '90s.

"I think he swung the bat good, he hit a couple balls good," former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda said afterward.

Now a senior vice president with the Dodgers, Lasorda seemed to realize he was being overly kind.

MARINERS: After one season in left field, Randy Winn is moving to center - the position he has played most of his career.

Mike Cameron was Seattle's center fielder for four years, winning his second Gold Glove last season, but signed with the New York Mets.

"It's not like Randy hasn't played center field," Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. "And he's such a good athlete that it doesn't take him long to figure it out."

WHITE SOX: Shingo Takatsu, Japan's career saves leader, threw an inning in an intrasquad game and flashed a tricky changeup.

"Sometimes it kind of looks like it can defy a little gravity," pitching coach Don Cooper said.