Braves trade Aybar to Tampa Bay  —  Infielder Willy Aybar's troubled career with the Braves ended Thursday, when they traded him and minor-league shortstop Chase Fontaine to Tampa Bay for left-handed reliever Jeff Ridgway.  —  Aybar missed the 2007 season because of injuries and suspension …

Roger Clemens Hires Top Washington Lawyer  —  Roger Clemens has bolstered his legal team, hiring a powerhouse Washington lawyer, Lanny A. Breuer, who represented former President Bill Clinton during his impeachment hearings as well as numerous corporations that were the subject of Congressional investigations.

Phillies - Ruffin on Kendrick: Don't do what I did  —  BY NOW, THE story is familiar.  How the Phillies, in desperate need of a starting pitcher at midseason, reached all the way down to Double A Reading.  How the kid came up and amazed everyone with his poise and success.

Treanor signs; 3 may go to hearings  —  By noon today the Marlins will have agreements with three more players or will start preparing for three arbitration hearings.  —  Catcher Matt Treanor was the only one of four arbitration-eligible Marlins who signed Thursday, agreeing on a one-year, $705,000 deal.

Lowell living large  —  Series star enjoys his new celebrity  —  There are perks to being World Series MVP, as Mike Lowell happily recounted yesterday.  —  “I got to shoot an ad today with Rene Russo,” the Red Sox third baseman said before the Boston Baseball Writers dinner at the Westin Waterfront Hotel.

Pena gets 3 years, $24-million  —  The Rays have agreed to a three-year deal with team MVP Carlos Pena for approximately $24-million, the Times has learned.  —  Pena, 29, was the consensus American League Comeback Player of the Year after a spectacular season in which he finished with a team-record 46 home runs and 121 runs batted in.

Selig's term extended through 2012  —  Three-year extension ratified at Thursday's owner's meeting  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Commissioner Bud Selig's contract has been extended by Major League Baseball's 30 owners for three years, taking him through the 2012 season.

Key to Mets getting Santana could be Martinez  —  Fernando Martinez hasn't played above the Double-A level, but the Mets' young outfield prospect could be the key to acquiring Johan Santana from the Twins.  —  “I sense that [the Mets] have got a deal if Martinez is in it,” …

The Biggest Loser  —  Ray King, a 34-year-old lefty trying to make the Nationals this spring, on winning the battle of the bulge  —  I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK great in uniform to be a great ballplayer.  C.C. Sabathia is a big guy, and he won the Cy Young.  Prince Fielder was in the race for MVP.

Athletics agree to terms with Huston Street on one-year contract  —  A's pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 13  —  OAKLAND — The Oakland Athletics announced today the club has agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Huston Street on a one-year contract for the 2008 season.

One giant leap (cont.)  —  Ervin Santana: Santana still has the power stuff that helped him throw 204 innings of above-average ball for the Angels in 2006.  As a flyball pitcher who fights his command at times, Santana runs the risk of blowups when he's both walking people and allowing homers.