D-Backs notebook: Team to decide soon about contract for Nixon

TUCSON – Trot Nixon impressed the Diamondbacks with his offense in a workout Sunday and they continue with internal talks about offering him a minor league contract, their only option.

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At the same time, the D-Backs are aware of the fact that Nixon might seek a situation with a more defined role than they can provide.

“We’ll probably make a decision whether to bring him in the next day or so, or at least making an offer, to the extent he might have other choices,” general manager Josh Byrnes said Monday morning.

The D-Backs’ interest in Nixon, a veteran left-handed hitter who has spent virtually all of his career in right field, is as an insurance policy in case injuries to Chad Tracy (knee) and Miguel Montero (finger) linger, or other injuries crop up.

The D-Backs are committed to Justin Upton in right field and Jeff Salazar as a backup at all three spots, and would not bring Nixon in to contend for a starting role.

“That’s the delicacy of it. We have some young players who are pretty entrenched, whether it is Upton, or Jeff Salazar, who is out of options,” Byrnes said.

“There is a certain certainty with those guys. So Trot knows the landscape. If we do decide to bring him in, the competition is what it is.”

Nixon hit several balls over the fence — one of which struck a car, according to an observer — during batting practice Sunday and took ground balls at first base.

“He did well enough, you wonder why he is not in a camp somewhere,” Arizona manager Bob Melvin said.

WELCOME TO TUCSON

Eric Byrnes was in Tucson for about an hour when he was stopped by city police Monday morning and given a ticket for having an expired tag on his license plate.

He was cited after having a cup of coffee at Starbucks and dropping off a college roommate at a rental car company.

“He was very happy to write that ticket,” said Byrnes, who was driving his 2005 GMC van, known as the “shaggin’ wagon.”

The police officer removed the license plate but permitted Byrnes to drive away.

Byrnes went directly to the D-Backs’ training facility and took batting practice with the position players.

He said he will pay the ticket and get his plate back at the Tucson Motor Vehicle Division office this morning.

“They should be giving me money for all the potholes in the street,” Byrnes said.

GOLDEN BOY

Right-hander Wes Roemer wore gold spikes in pitching drills Monday, the result of a prank by the veteran pitchers.

After lapping the rest of the staff in a 1.2-mile run early in camp, Roemer found his workout shoes and spikes missing from his locker Monday morning.

When he returned from treatment, his shoes had been painted gold. And since it was the only pair of spikes he had — he wore them.

“I got ‘Golden Boy.’ I got ‘Flash,’ ” Roemer said of his teammates’ ribbing. “It was all fun. It’s cool. I know they could have done a lot more things.”

Roemer, a sandwich pick in the 2007 draft from Cal State Fullerton, ran cross country in high school and last year said he ran a 4:38 mile at Fullerton.

“I don’t like to run slow,” he said.

Roemer is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the system and is expected to begin this season at Class A Visalia after going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in eight relief appearances at Yakima of the short-season Northwest League as a concession to his heavy use in college last year.

SHORT HOP

Juan Cruz is expected in camp today after being given permission to be late while speaking with officials of the Dominican Republic government, which is trying to build a highway through his property. Juan Gutierrez (visa) is still expected in Wednesday, but there remains no timetable on Tony Peña (visa).