"In his first public appearance since he was able to talk publicly about settling a lawsuit that stemmed from his PED suspension, lefty reliever J.C. Romero said there was one important takeaway from his three-year fight.

"I'm innocent," he said.

"My job was to fight to the end and clear my name," he added later. "I achieved that."

Romero, 35, signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals this winter, and he made his first appearance with the team Sunday on the second day of the annual Winter Warm-up. For the number-philes out there, he'll wear No. 16 in the coming season."