Jeff Weaver looks like a lock for opening-day roster

He's pitching in a minor-league game today so they can stretch him out to three innings in anticipation of using him as a long man out of the bullpen or possibly giving him a spot start now and then. But he clearly has this team made as a reliever, even though no one has come out and actually said it yet.
``He has been pretty consistent for me, without telling you he is on the club,'' Joe Torre said this morning. ``I think doing what we're doing today (is telling). Normally, you want to see somebody pitch against big-league clubs, but this is more of a physical thing. I would like to see him stretch it out.''
Weaver's minor-league deal, which surprisingly didn't include an out clause if he didn't make the team, does include a clause stating that he will receive a base salary of $500,000 if he makes the club, with no additional incentives.
Meanwhile, Torre reiterated this morning that Jason Schmidt and Delwyn Young likely will begin the season on the disabled list. But it looks like Claudio Vargas will be ready to go. He shut himself down with elbow pain three days ago, but Stan Conte said an MRI showed nothing more serious than inflammation and that Vargas feels much better today. He was expected to play catch on the back fields during today's workout.