A's designate Bradley for assignment  —  Harden activated from DL for weekend series with Mets  —  OAKLAND — In a move that general manager Billy Beane characterized as an attempt to limit any potential clubhouse displeasure about playing time, the A's on Thursday designated oft-injured outfielder Milton Bradley for assignment.

XM All-Star Futures Game rosters announced  —  Rosters for the ninth annual XM All-Star Futures Game were announced today by Major League Baseball, MLB.com, Minor League Baseball and Baseball America.  —  The XM All-Star Futures Game will feature the top Minor League prospects competing …

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.

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 …

Emotional Changeup By Tavarez  —  ATLANTA — Julian Tavarez has been easily typecast.  —  Whether it's rolling balls to first base for outs, enduring lengthy head rubs from Manny Ramirez, punching dugout phones in the 2004 postseason or players at home plate in a 2006 spring training game, Tavarez is often pegged as a loose cannon.

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 …

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.

MISSING MIKE  —  PIAZZA WILL BE ON DL FOR A'S TRIP TO SHEA  —  It's unlikely that Mike Piazza will have a second homecoming against the Mets this weekend.  —  The legendary former Met, who returned to Shea last year with the Padres, is with the A's now, and Oakland will face the Mets …

Florida Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez has season-ending surgery  —  Nine and half months after throwing a no-hitter and getting a triumphant ride on his teammates' shoulders, Anibal Sanchez must start over.  —  The Venezuelan right-hander learned Thursday he would miss the rest of the season …

Notes: Patterson makes rehab start  —  Pair of prospects to represent Nationals in Futures Game  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals right-hander John Patterson, who is on the disabled list because of a sore right elbow and biceps, had another rehab start for Class A Potomac on Thursday night.

Nats' Top Prospect Has Major Potential  —  HIALEAH GARDENS, Fla. — When the talent is this obvious, and the future is this limitless and the ball jumps off the bat like this — with a sound that, swear to God, involves two syllables instead of one: "ska-POW!"  — you keep your thoughts to yourself.

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.