Here are a few more PRO Rumors to follow on Thursday:

• Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times says that Carlos Pena hopes to stay with the Tampa Bay rays after the season. With the expiring deal of Carl Crawford, it’s unlikely that the team can keep both.
• Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune says that Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella doesn’t know what Twitter is. This is in response to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen recently jumping on the Twitter bandwagon.
• The Pioneer Press says that Minnesota Twins’ Francisco Liriano is close to regaining his 2006 form. Liriano was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006.
• According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pirates’ second baseman Akinori Iwamura said the Pirates could win the World Series. “There’s a big possibility for this (Pirates) team to win a World Series,” Iwamura said through an interpreter. “Just like Tampa Bay, we have good coaches and good, young players.”
• B.J. Rains of The St. Louis Globe Democrat says that Tony LaRussa has ruled out a possible return for former Cardinals Russ Springer and Jason Isringhausen.
• Nicholas Hirshon of The Daily News writes that the New York Mets have invited former pitcher Dwight Gooden to become a Spring Training adviser to mentor the young players on the pressures of playing in New York. Gooden declined the offer because his wife is nine months pregnant.
• Jerry Crowe of the Los Angeles Times suggests that Manny Ramirez might not be around past the trading deadline if the Dodgers fall flat this season.