The Baltimore Orioles' Rafael Palmeiro is leaving open the possibility of filing a lawsuit against Jose Canseco, who said he introduced the first baseman to steroids in 1992 when both players were with the Texas Rangers.

Canseco cited Palmeiro as a steroid user in his new book. In an interview on the CBS television show "60 Minutes," Canseco said he injected the drug into Palmeiro.

Palmeiro issued a statement last month in which he denied he ever used steroids, and he emphatically backed up that assertion yesterday after his first practice of spring training.

Palmeiro also said he's considered hiring the law firm of Orioles owner Peter Angelos to take legal action against Canseco.

"The one thing I can say is I have the best law firm and the best lawyer standing in the wings in Peter Angelos," he said. "I have options available for me. He stands behind me and he's ready. I will look at all my options and I'll decide."

Palmeiro, 40, ranks among the greatest hitters in baseball history. The four-time All-Star has 551 career homers, 2,922 hits and a .289 batting average. He would prefer to focus on preparing for his 20th big-league season, but the topic kept swinging back to steroids during an impromptu interview session in the Baltimore dugout at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

"I can't worry about those things. Along the way, there's always going to be someone saying something about you, whether it's true or not. You just go on," Palmeiro said.

"My job right now is to get ready for baseball. My mind has to be here."

Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli told Palmeiro that he has the full support of the team.

Dodgers

Closer Eric Gagne sprained a ligament in his left knee during the team's first full-squad workout of spring training, and will have an MRI exam.

Gagne, 29, didn't seem particularly concerned, but trainer Stan Johnston said the right-hander probably will have his activity limited for about a week.

Johnston said the injury needs about six weeks to fully heal. Gagne agreed to a $19 million, two-year contract last month.

Red Sox

Curt Schilling's sock was bloodless, his ankle was stable and his manager was encouraged.

But the perfectionist pitcher was less than thrilled after throwing off a mound for the first time since his gritty performance in Game 2 of the World Series, which was followed by surgery 16 days later.

"This was a day when I didn't feel as good as I wanted to feel," Schilling said after his 47-pitch, 16-minute workout. "My ankle didn't hurt, so I guess that's a positive for people other than me."

Schilling played long toss with David Wells, then took the mound without wearing an ankle brace and threw his first pitch from one of four adjacent pitching rubbers in a bullpen.

Ten television cameras recorded his moves. Manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Dave Wallace watched closely from behind the mound. Shawn Wooten crouched behind the plate.

Schilling worked out for more than an hour afterward. He doesn't expect his ankle to bother him today.

Marlins

The Florida Marlins' financing plan for a $420 million ballpark won unanimous approval from the city commission.

In a nonbinding agreement, the city agreed to contribute $28 million to cover the cost of land near the Orange Bowl and infrastructure needed for the 38,000-seat stadium, which would open for the 2008 season.

The city plans to issue $120 million in bonds backed by $28 million in tourist tax development taxes, $32 million for a parking garage and $60 million in hotel bed taxes freed up when the city sold Miami Arena last year.

The Miami-Dade County Commission is expected to approve the agreement Tuesday.

The largest remaining hurdle is the state Legislature, which will be asked to approve a sale tax rebate to plug a $30 million gap in the financing plan.

Elsewhere

Former American League Rookie of the Year Marty Cordova retired, a day after he was scheduled to report to spring training with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. ... San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Tucker missed his second consecutive day of spring training workouts because of back spasms. ... The Los Angeles Dodgers went through their first full-squad workout of spring training with everyone in camp except infielder Norihiro Nakamura, who is experiencing visa problems. ... St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa thinks Mark McGwire will become a hitting instructor with the Cardinals at some point. McGwire mostly has stayed away from ballparks since his retirement after the 2001 season. ... A senior House Democrat urged that Jose Canseco and others the former baseball slugger accused of abusing steroids, including McGwire, be called before Congress to testify on use of performance-enhancing drugs. Rep. Henry Waxman of California, the top Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, said representatives from Major League Baseball and the players' association also should appear before the panel to explain how they plan to stop the use of dangerous drugs by baseball players. Waxman made his request for hearings to the chairman of the committee, Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va. There was no immediate response from Davis' office.