A.L. report.(BASEBALL)

The MARINERS will give newly acquired Joe Borchard the first shot at replacing CF Jeremy Reed, who will begin the season on the D.L. because of a broken wrist. It appears unlikely the club will shift RF Ichiro Suzuki to center. The team has been impressed with Borchard's power and speed.... RHP AJ. Burnett (elbow) will be brought back slowly by the BLUE JAYS and might not be ready to pitch in the first week. LHP Scott Downs would slide into the No. 5 spot in the rotation, with LHP Ted Ully, RHP Josh Towers and LHP Gustavo Chacin each moving up a spot.... WHITE SOX manager Ozzie Guillen has temporarily scrapped plans to switch 2B Tadahito Iguchi and SS Juan Uribe in the order. Iguchi, who has struggled after changing his swing early this spring, is back in the No. 2 spot, and Uribe has returned to the bottom third of the order.... Rookie Ian Kinsler has won the RANGERS' second base job. Veteran Mark DeRosa will be used as a utility player and might get some outfield time against lefthanded pitchers.... Given his minimal tuneup work this spring, ROYALS DH Mike Sweeney (ankle) might not be ready for opening day. Matt Stairs would replace Sweeney in the lineup.... SS Jason Bartlett's fielding this spring has given the TWINS doubts about his ability to lead the infield. Nick Punto or Juan Castro might compete with Bartlett for playing time.... The YANKEES might keep C Wil Nieves as a roster fill-in for RHP Carl Pavano or RHP Aaron Small. Pavano (back) and Small (hamstring) are expected to go on the D.L. Nieves, 28, is out of minor league options, and the club doesn't want to expose him to waivers.... ORIOLES OF Nick Markakis, the club's most patient hitter this spring, has played his way into contention for a starting job. Markakis, 22, is a natural right fielder but would play left or center with the Orioles. Left field is his weakest position.... INDIANS LHP Cliff Lee is changing the grip on his sinker to get more bite on the pitch. He especially wants to use it on the outside corner against righthanded batters.... New TIGERS infield coach Rafael Belliard has worked with 3B Brandon Inge on his positioning so he gets in front of more ground balls instead of attacking everything from the side.... DEVIL RAYS pitching coach Mike Butcher moved RHP Jesus Colome's feet closer to the middle of the rubber so Colome can be more effective throwing his high-90s fastball inside to hitters.... RHP Esteban ...