For the second straight day, the Chicago Cubs signed a key player to a multiyear deal.

One day after giving Kerry Wood a three-year contract, the Cubs agreed to a $22.5 million, three-year pact with Gold Glove first baseman Derrek Lee on Saturday.

Acquired in a November trade from the world champion Florida Marlins, Lee could have become a free agent after this season. Originally he signed a $6.9 million, one-year deal last month.

“You never know how it is going to work out. Obviously, you have the opportunity to maybe go out on the market and make a little more, but you know, like I say, ‘It’s about the money, but it’s not all about the money,'” Lee said.

“The situation, I just felt it was right for me. An opportunity to be good for a while … for me to turn this down I think I would have been a little bit crazy.”

Lee will get base salaries of $5.5 million this season, $7 million in 2005 and $8 million in 2006. He also receives a $2 million signing bonus spread evenly over the three years.

Also Saturday, the Cubs announced Wood would start the season opener April 5 in Cincinnati, and be followed by Greg Maddux and Mark Prior.

“I’m going with Prior after Maddux to give a different look, plus you know Prior can learn a lot from Maddux, I think,” manager Dusty Baker said Saturday.

Baker wants to use Maddux, the four-time Cy Young winner who re-signed with the Cubs this month, and his crafty assortment of pitches between power pitchers Wood and Prior.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner chuckles as he answers questions from his golf cart. The impromptu news conference took place following practice Saturday in Tampa, Fla.

“Like I said before, we’ve got — in my opinion — five guys who could start opening day for a lot of teams,” Wood said. “We’re fortunate to have the opportunity to have a staff where it doesn’t really matter what the rotation is.”

In Tampa, Fla., Yankees owner George Steinbrenner left no doubt he wants Joe Torre to be his manager beyond this season. Torre, in the final year of his contract, has guided the Yankees to four World Series championships and six AL pennants since 1996.

“We’d like to keep him … sure would,” Steinbrenner said. “I want Joe to be happy and satisfied. Right now I just want to leave Joe to his own pace. When he’s ready, he’ll make up his mind and that’s good enough for me.”

Yankees general partner Steve Swindal, Steinbrenner’s son-in-law, and Torre have held general discussions. Torre has not decided whether he wants to manage past this season. He said no formal offer had been presented.

“We’ve talked about the possibility of one,” Torre said. “But I told him (Swindal), let’s just keep talking on a regular basis. We may get there, but I’m just not ready to do that.”

Bernie Williams remained hospitalized, two days after having his appendix removed.

Torre said a low-grade fever, which is not unusual following surgery, prompted officials to keep the Yankees’ center fielder at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Williams might be released today.

Steinbrenner is also interested in possibly bringing right-hander Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez back to New York. Hernandez, a free agent coming off shoulder surgery, threw in an open workout Friday in Miami.

In Kissimmee, Fla., the Atlanta Braves named 21-game winner Russ Ortiz their opening day starter April 6 at Turner Field against the New York Mets. Manager Bobby Cox, who usually waits until the final days of camp to announce his rotation, surprised everyone when he laid out his plans.

“He’s very deserving of opening day,” Cox said. “I think all pitchers consider it an honor.”

Ortiz will be followed by Mike Hampton, newcomer John Thomson and Horacio Ramirez. The Braves haven’t decided on a fifth starter, expected to be one of the major issues this spring.

In St. Petersburg, Fla., Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said right-hander Victor Zambrano would start opening day against the Yankees on March 30 in Japan.

In Jupiter, Fla., Marlins right-hander A.J. Burnett threw his second consecutive pain-free bullpen session of spring training, and might pitch in an exhibition game.

“That’s a possibility,” Florida manager Jack McKeon said. “That’s definitely a possibility. He’s still got a long way to go but he’s right on target or even ahead of it.”

Burnett, 27, underwent reconstructive elbow surgery last April 28, and his projected return date this season is May 1.

In Surprise, Ariz., right-hander Chan Ho Park continued his comeback from two injury-plagued seasons with the Texas Rangers by throwing 36 pitches during batting practice.