Texas Rangers' Sammy Sosa waits to take batting practice. Sosa attended his first day of spring training workouts Friday in Surprise, Ariz. Sosa signed a minor-league contract with Texas.

Sammy Sosa isn’t interested in answering the lingering questions about steroids. After a year out of baseball, he has more pressing issues with the Texas Rangers.

“I don’t have to convince nobody,” Sosa said Friday. “I know who I am. I have been good to this game, I will continue to be great to this game, I will continue to perform. … I don’t want to talk about whatever happened in Congress. This is not my problem. I’ve got to make the team.”

Two years after being among several players who testified before a congressional committee looking into steroid use in professional baseball, the 38-year-old Sosa is trying to make a comeback and has a minor-league contract with his original team.

But he’s still fielding the same questions that dogged him when he left the game after the 2005 season with Baltimore. Like Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds, Sosa is suspected by some of having used steroids before they were banned by baseball 41â2 years ago.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” Sosa said. “Let’s talk about baseball. Let’s talk about 2007, and the talent we have in Texas, and what we can do this year.”

The former NL MVP and seven-time All-Star, fifth with 588 career home runs, took part in the Rangers’ first full-squad workout.

“I’m a little older. It doesn’t mean I can’t hit you 30 or 40 home runs,” he said. “What’s the deal? You think I’m dead?”

Diamondbacks

In Tucson, Ariz., Randy Johnson pitched off a mound for the first time since back surgery in October and said after the private bullpen session that he felt fine.

The Big Unit threw 25 fastballs and said he was “pretty free and easy” – although reporters were not allowed to verify that for themselves. Johnson’s private workout was viewed by Diamondbacks coaches on a field away from the media. Johnson said he wasn’t trying to keep the workout a secret.

“Just in case I’m launching balls over in the White Sox’s parking lot,” Johnson said with a chuckle, referring to the Diamondbacks’ spring training neighbors. “I was going to report to you guys regardless.”

Giants

In Scottsdale, Ariz., Giants owner Peter Magowan said he expected Bonds to take part in festivities for baseball’s All-Star game in his home ballpark this summer.

Magowan hopes that Bonds’ godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, will be a big part of the July event in San Francisco. Yet Magowan would rather No. 25 is in uniform and playing for the NL and World Series-winning manager Tony La Russa.

“If Willie is going to get honored, as I think he will, Barry will have some role to play there,” Magowan said. “But what I hope instead will happen is he is chosen to be on the All-Star team, and I feel he will be.”

White Sox

In Tucson, Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe said he thought his legal troubles were behind him.

Uribe was alleged to have shot a farmer in his native Dominican Republic during the offseason. He also believes someone tried to extort more than $900,000 from him in connection with the case.

“Everyone knows I wasn’t involved, and I’m just glad it’s over with,” he said Friday through an interpreter after going through his first workout with the White Sox.

Mets

In Port St. Lucie, Fla., New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez said he should know next week when he can start throwing.

Recovering from rotator cuff surgery, Martinez is likely to miss the first half of the season. He repeated that he was working hard at rehabilitation and expected his right shoulder to heal.

“If it doesn’t, then I need to hang it up, hang it and go home because I’m not going to work any harder,” he said.

Blue Jays

In Dunedin, Fla., Jo Matumoto, a 36-year-old left-hander who pitched for Brazil’s national team, agreed to a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and was invited to spring training.

The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, was selected MVP of the 2005 South American Games, and the Blue Jays said he was considered to be the ace of Brazil’s national team.

“I’m very happy to be here, I am very emotional,” Matumoto said through his wife, who translated. “It’s like a dream.”

Orioles

In Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Baltimore Orioles reliever Jamie Walker sustained a concussion when he was hit in the back of the head by Nick Markakis’ line drive during batting practice.

Walker never went down and walked off the field under his own power. He went to a hospital for X-rays, and team spokesman Bill Stetka said he was diagnosed with a mild concussion. A CT scan was negative, and Walker is day to day.