Here's a few 2nd thoughts  —  Orioles' Roberts has reappeared on Cubs' wish list  —  Now that the Erik Bedard trade finally is signed and sealed, the Brian Roberts watch resumes in Chicago.  —  It has been a whirlwind ride already.  —  A month ago, it looked as if the Baltimore Orioles …

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.

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.

Mets Lore Lands in New Jersey Basement  —  Charlie Sobel received a rather unusual bar mitzvah gift in 1971.  —  “I was living in Brooklyn at the time, and I get this box in the mail from my Uncle Robert and I'm all excited,” he recalled.  “I open it up and I see all these baseball drawings and I'm like, 'What's this junk?'

NL Spring Training Capsules  —  A team-by-team look at the National League entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, reporting dates and 2008 outlook:  —  NL East  —  Manager: Charlie Manuel (fourth season).  —  2007: 89-73, first place.  —  Training Town: Clearwater, Fla.

Free-agent help is still available  —  Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com and author of the new book, “Winners: How Good Baseball Teams Become Great Ones” (Available now at Amazon.com).  —  With spring training just around the bend, you can probably guess that most noteworthy free agents have been signed.

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 …

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.

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 …

Brian McNamee testified Roger Clemens' wife took HGH  —  Brian McNamee told congressional investigators Thursday that he injected Roger Clemens' wife with human growth hormone, according to a source with knowledge of McNamee's testimony.  —  The source said McNamee believes Debbie Clemens took growth hormone …

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.

Right-hander Hughes ready for big time  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Age is one of those attributes that is almost always presented under heavy disguise.  Look older.  Act younger.  Carry yourself like a gentleman.  Sleep like a baby.  —  This has been a particularly noticeable phenomenon …