Greg Maddux met his new teammates, Philadelphia’s Jim Thome surveyed the scene, and Cincinnati’s Barry Larkin opened his final spring training camp.

It could only mean one thing: Spring training got into full swing Thursday.

The Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies began workouts across Florida and Arizona. They joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who had a head start Sunday because they open the season early in Japan.

A day after agreeing to return to the Cubs, Maddux looked quite comfortable as he strolled into their clubhouse in Mesa, Ariz., holding a crossword puzzle.

“The clubhouse used to be in the middle of the fields, didn’t it?” he asked. “I’ll get used to it.”

Fans were thrilled to see No. 31 wearing a Cubs uniform for the first time since 1992, with one yelling out, “We’re glad to have you back!” as Maddux and the rest of the team took the field to stretch.

“I don’t really feel like a rookie,” he said. “I might feel like a fish out of water. I’m still trying to learn what fields No. 1 and 2 mean. I think in time I’ll understand the system and fit right in.”

His teammates are sure of it.

“He’s going to come into our rotation and obviously help us,” Kerry Wood said. “So obviously he’s going to be welcomed with open arms in this clubhouse.”

In the day’s top news event, NL Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne lost his salary arbitration case and will receive $5 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of $8 million.

Gagne was 2-3 with a 1.20 ERA and 55 saves in as many chances last season and made $550,000.

Arbitrators Stephen Goldberg, Dan Brent and Elliott Shriftman heard the case Wednesday in Phoenix.

Gagne’s agent, Scott Boras, said the Dodgers argued that he shouldn’t be paid vastly more in his first year of arbitration eligibility than Mariano Rivera, who beat the New York Yankees in 1999 and earned $4.25 million.

“The club’s argument was that he should be tied to Mariano Rivera as a three-plus player, and the service-time argument apparently won the day,” Boras said.

New Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta wouldn’t say whether the team would consider a multiyear contract for Gagne, who can become a free agent after the 2006 season.

“Obviously, this guy has accomplished an awful lot and is an integral part of this club,” DePodesta said. “Maybe you’d want to give one pitcher four or five years. Some you only feel comfortable giving him two. It’s a case-by-case basis. I don’t know enough about this case to say what would make sense.”

Owners beat players 4-3 in the cases that went to hearings, the eighth straight year management has won a majority. Owners hold a 263-197 advantage since arbitration began in 1974.

At Clearwater, Fla., Thome arrived at Phillies camp a week before the required reporting date for position players.

“I think the reason why I get here so early is because I want to get out of the cold weather,” Thome said with a chuckle. “I don’t live here or in Arizona like a lot of these guys.”

The Phillies, who lost the National League’s wild-card playoff slot to eventual World Series champion Florida, have high expectations this season.

“You look at this club and you have to be excited,” Thome said. “But being good on paper doesn’t win it. We had great teams when I was in Cleveland, and we never won a World Series.”

At Sarasota, Fla., Larkin had no nostalgic feelings as he put on his red jersey and black spring training cap at the Cincinnati Reds’ camp.

“This is normal,” said the infielder, who turns 40 in April. “There’s nothing special, yet, about this upcoming season. You’ve got to go out and play, play hard, try to do well, and that’s really it.

“There’s nothing more that goes into it at this particular point. You get ready and you go out and try to have a good year.”

Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals were expected to announce their $100 million, seven-year contract today, when the sides had been scheduled to go to salary arbitration in Arizona.