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.

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.

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 …

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?'

Curt had few options … One day after first, second and third opinions about the status of Curt Schilling [stats]'s ailing right shoulder were reported in an absolute blizzard of media coverage, the matter died down some yesterday.  —  Initially resistant, Schilling is now on board with the Red Sox …

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 …

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.

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” …

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.

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.

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 …