A's likely cutting ties with Bradley, activate Harden  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics designated outfielder Milton Bradley for assignment Thursday, cutting ties with a player who was expected to play an important role on the team this season.  —  The move was made to avoid …

Not for the Birds: Girardi turns down Orioles job  —  BALTIMORE — Joe Girardi declined an offer Thursday to become the new manager of the Baltimore Orioles, saying the timing wasn't right "for the Girardi family."  —  "Baltimore is a fine organization, a fine team, and I'm flattered …

Futures Game rosters announced  —  Cleveland prospect Lofgren excited to play near hometown  —  It doesn't matter what language you say it in — Japanese, Spanish, Dutch or English — the only correct way to say "future" to the 50 prospects chosen to participate in the 2007 XM Satelitte All-Star Futures Game is "big leagues."

Win-loss records don't tell the whole story … How often have you heard this question asked this season:  —  What's wrong with Johan Santana?  —  Uh, how about nothing?  —  Yeah, his win-loss record is "only" 7-6.  Yeah, that's exactly the same record as Miguel Batista.

Giambi agrees to meet with Mitchell investigation  —  NEW YORK — Jason Giambi agreed Thursday to meet with baseball steroids investigator George Mitchell and apologized for his actions, becoming the first active player known to cooperate with the former Senate majority leader.

Wrist injury puts Tejada's streak in jeopardy … SAN DIEGO // Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada extended his consecutive games streak, to 1,152 yesterday, but that's where it is probably going to end.  —  Tests were taken on Tejada's left wrist late Wednesday night, and the results received …

Hernandez returns to form as Mariners blank Bucs again  —  Looking back at it, the past two months have been the nadir of Felix Hernandez's pitching career.  —  A star almost from the moment he signed out of Venezuela at 16, Hernandez's road to the major leagues was golden — one success after another.

UNC sets ups CWS rematch with Oregon St.  —  OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — North Carolina powered its way back to the College World Series finals.  —  After hitting just one home run in their first 13 postseason games, the Tar Heels lit up Rice for four long balls in a 7-4 victory Thursday night.

Playing in Peoria, Former Top Pick of Padres Hopes to Salvage Career  —  For a professional baseball player of any acclaim and experience to be in Peoria at this time of year, something has to have gone wrong.  —  Peoria is the spring home of the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners — a place to be in March, not June.