BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Mitchell Due for a Move?

Seattle Mariners outfielder Kevin Mitchell, contemplating a move from his hometown of San Diego: “I could go into a grocery market and a fight would break out.”

Defending American League batting champion Julio Franco has bursitis in his right knee and will miss at least two weeks of spring training, the Texas Rangers learned.

Franco was examined by Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., orthopedist Dan Kanell, who diagnosed patella bursitis aggravated by trying to do too much too soon during spring training.

Franco hit .341 last year and has a lifetime .302 average.

Don’t blame the Houston Astros for being a bit confused in camp. Since, they don’t place the first initials on their uniforms in camp, it has become impossible to keep up with the Joneses: There’s Doug Jones and Todd Jones and Jimmy Jones and Chris Jones. Assistant trainer Rex Jones doesn’t know what to do. . . . Minnesota Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek on the departure of Jack Morris: “I don’t want to hear about Jack. We don’t have Junior Ortiz either. Last year, we lost Gary (Gaetti). You learn in this game to do your job, and that’s what we’re going to do this year, even though we don’t have that four-letter word.” . . . Craig Biggio of the Astros, who is making the transition from catcher to second base, will be the only regular middle infielder in the major leagues who didn’t originally sign as a second baseman or shortstop. . . . Ron Schueler, Chicago White Sox general manager, on Bo Jackson’s persistent limp: “It hurts me some days for me to watch him.” The White Sox have a March 15 deadline to pick up the option on his $910,000 salary. . . . The Oakland Athletics have 12 potential free agents at the end of the season, not counting perhaps their move vital one, Manager Tony LaRussa. . . . San Francisco Giants first baseman Will Clark, whose four-year, $15-million contract has become obsolete, says you won’t hear him utter a word about contract renegotiation: “When I signed my name to the dotted line, I was very content, and I’m still very content. When you sign you have to live up to the contract, and that’s what I’m going to do.” . . . Atlanta second baseman Jeff Treadway is expected to undergo surgery on his right hand Friday, Brave General Manager John Schuerholz said. Treadway could be sidelined for three months.