DirecTV, MLB agree; cable companies still negotiating  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball announced its $700 million, seven-year agreement with DirecTV on Thursday and said the deal contains a provision that allows its "Extra Innings" package of out-of-market games to remain on cable television …

Love of Your Team Can Soon Be Everlasting  —  For the baseball fan who has everything in the here and now, how about a team-licensed urn for his ashes in the hereafter?  —  Yes, Yankees fans, an aluminum urn with pinstripes, the interlocking NY logo, a place on top for a ball that you might …

Nationals release Womack, trim roster  —  Team reduces number of players in Major League camp to 56  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals trimmed their roster from 72 to 56 on Thursday, when they gave infielder Tony Womack his unconditional release and reassigned infielders Tony Blanco …

Remembering John Vukovich  —  "As a player, coach, instructor, advisor and above all, friend, he made a tremendous contribution to our organization and all of us.  He was a fierce competitor who possessed tremendous baseball knowledge and had great respect for the game.  He always wanted to see the game played right.

Coats, Pie propel Cubs past Padres  —  Outfielders combine for five hits; Wood allows grand slam  —  Cubs 8, Padres 6  —  Padres at the plate: Terrmel Sledge continued his hot spring with his third home run, a grand slam in the fourth inning that tied the game at 5.  He's hitting .400 this spring with seven RBIs.

Sexson, Beltre must warm up engines  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — If you stopped paying attention to the Mariners before the All-Star break last year, you probably did so after reaching two conclusions: 1) The Mariners are infuriating to watch because they can't win close games; and, 2) …

Positive step in Penn's first spring outing … JUPITER, FLA. // Only once was Orioles pitcher Hayden Penn reminded about his sprained left ankle yesterday.  His memory received a jolt, as did the ankle, when he threw a full-count curveball to the Florida Marlins' Joe Borchard in the fourth inning.

Sox eye Japan trip: Henry: '09 opener possible  —  JUPITER, Fla. - Red Sox [team stats] owner John Henry said yesterday there is "a probability perhaps" that the Red Sox will open their season in Japan by 2009.  —  Red Sox forum:  —  There has been talk that the Red Sox could open …

Notes: Phillips makes return to Yankees  —  Clemens makes Legends Field visit; Mussina takes his swings  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Andy Phillips returned to the Yankees on Thursday after a week-long absence spent attending to his mother, Linda, following a serious traffic accident in Alabama.

Kinney needs elbow surgery  —  JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Kinney needs elbow ligament-replacement surgery and will likely miss the entire season.  —  Kinney was a top candidate for setup relief pitcher this year.  He first tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching forearm one year ago.

Bulk mail ...  We've got an overflowing mailbag this week, with topics ranging from Papelbon to Dice-K to Manny and back again  —  The mailbag is back!  Starting this week, Boston Globe baseball writer Gordon Edes checks in every week (usually on Wednesdays or Thursdays) to answer your questions on the Red Sox.

Ex-big leaguer Holmes linked to steroid probe  —  Former major league pitcher Darren Holmes joined the list of athletes linked to a nationwide steroids investigation.  —  SI.com reported Thursday that Holmes received somatropin, a form of HGH, and testosterone from Palm Beach Rejuvenation in October 2003.

Sports museums suffering at gate … The Orioles' losing streak may have more than one casualty.  —  Slumping attendance has left the city's two sports museums in the red, with a projected deficit of $600,000, according to the foundation that runs the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum and Sports Legends at Camden Yards.