Busy day for locals

Good news and bad for some major league pitchers with local ties.

First the good. Minnesota gave former Shreveport Captain Joe Nathan, the Twins' All-Star closer, a four-year contract extension, setting him and his family up financially for life.

Now the bad. It looks as though former Airline High star B.J. Ryan's comeback from Tommy John surgery will be delayed a couple of weeks. Ryan is dealing with elbow soreness and will not break camp with the Blue Jays.

Instead, he will stay in Florida and continue to work out at the team's spring training complex in Dunedin.