A's sign Foulke  —  (02-08) 12:39 PST — Keith Foulke's best season came during his only year in Oakland, 2003.  He led the league in saves, with 43, and he put up an ERA of 2.08.  —  Now, Foulke is back for another go-round with the A's, signing a $700,000 one-year major-league deal …

Karl Ehrhardt, 83, Sign Man and Shea Stadium Fixture Is Dead  —  Karl Ehrhardt, who through championship seasons and woeful ones and grand slams and botched plays let the Mets know what he thought of them by raising block-lettered signs from his box seat behind third base at Shea Stadium, died Tuesday at his home in Glen Oaks, Queens.

Fear not, Bavasi confident in trade  —  Mariners GM, eyeing playoffs, says Bedard deal had to be made  —  SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi had the motivation, the opportunity and just the right quality players to make Friday's blockbuster six-player deal involving Baltimore left-hander Erik Bedard.

Clemens Campaigns as His Wife Is Named  —  WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens met privately with seven more members of Congress on Friday, completing a two-day sweep of nearly half of the members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform who will hear his sworn testimony Wednesday.

Pavano's back for another try  —  TAMPA - Considering Carl Pavano's Yankee career, it's no surprise that slate-gray clouds provided the backdrop on an overcast day Friday as he began the final year of his four-year, $39.95 million contract with a 12-minute throwing session at the team's minor-league complex.

Rob Neyer just walked by  —  I'm here at the Sloan Sports Conference, and the keynote speech (Wyc Grousbeck, CEO of the Celtics) is about to begin.  I'm sitting next to David Pinto of Baseball Musings (he's liveblogging the event).  I was at this conference last year, and it was a blast.

No deal for Wang and Yankees  —  The Yankees and Chien-Ming Wang seem headed for arbitration.  —  “I expect there will be a hearing,” Brian Cashman told me earlier today.  “There have been talks but they haven't been productive.”  —  The Yankees submitted $4 million while Wang and agent Alan Nero countered with $4.6 million.

Becoming a better Manny  —  Things have been working out for Ramírez in the offseason  —  TEMPE, Ariz. - It's 8 a.m., and Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramírez is already sweaty.  He looks ripped and ready to defend the world championship.  —  He shouts, “Ohayo Gozaimasu” …

Rockies slugger on holiday in Raleigh  —  RALEIGH - These two images of baseball stood in stark relief Friday: one of the game's biggest stars, Roger Clemens, again fending off steroid accusations in meeting rooms on Capitol Hill while one of its newest stars, Matt Holliday …

Mattingly: It's best I missed Yanks job  —  UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Don Mattingly said Friday night that in retrospect, not getting the Yankees manager job probably was the best thing that could have happened to him.  —  Mattingly - who recently filed for divorce from Kim Mattingly …

Brewers pick up Yost's 2009 option  —  During a luncheon interview today to talk about the upcoming season, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin revealed he had picked up the 2009 option on manager Ned Yost's contract.  —  In fact, that option was picked up a long time ago.