Don Mattingly may be preparing to return to baseball after a one-year absence.

"We [Mattingly and wife Kim] feel like we've made the decision but we're not willing to make it publicly," Mattingly told WTVW-TV in Evansville, Ind. The 35-year-old first baseman retired last year after playing for the Yankees since 1982.

"I know he wants to play ball," said Ray Schulte, Mattingly's spokesman. "He wouldn't make an announcement until after the season as he doesn't want to make any distractions for the Yankees or any other teams."

Mattingly was plagued by back problems in the latter part of his career, making him a shadow of the player who had at least 110 RBI in each year from 1984-87 and 1989 and three straight seasons with 30 or more home runs.

Mattingly never formally retired from baseball, leaving the possibility that he might return. "There's a couple of more steps we want to take before we actually announce or start doing anything about it," Mattingly told WTVW.

Mattingly, who would be free to sign with any major-league team, would likely not return to the Yankees, who have Tino Martinez and Cecil Fielder to play first base.

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