Yanks agree to deal with Ibanez, sources say  —  The New York Yankees have agreed to a one-year deal with Raul Ibanez worth $1.1 million plus incentives, baseball sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Monday morning.  —  Ibanez can make up to $4 million total with the incentives, the sources said.

Manny Ramirez says he'll join A's  —  Manny Ramirez told ESPN's Pedro Gomez on Monday that he has agreed to a deal with the Oakland Athletics.  —  Ramirez  —  Sources tell Gomez the deal is worth about $500,000.  Ramirez is obligated to serve a 50-game suspension without pay before beginning play …

2012 Aggregate Bonus Pools  —  As part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are now assigned an aggregate signing bonus pool for their picks in the first 10 rounds of the draft.  Each has a predetermined value, from $7.2 million for the No. 1 choice to $125,000 for pick No. 300 and any subsequent .

Selig needed to ask if Burnett trade was in best interest of baseball  —  Back on June 15, 1976, as the first wave of MLB serfs-in-spikes was about to hit the open market under the original rules of free agency, a commissioner's decision cited as “in the best interests of baseball” was made by then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

Francisco Rodriguez mulls legal action against former agents  —  PHOENIX - Milwaukee Brewers reliever Francisco Rodriguez, believing his former agents deceived him, may file a grievance or lawsuit against them this week, his attorney told USA TODAY.  —  Attorney Richard Johnson said Rodriguez …

Braves' Hanson in car accident on way to camp  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson is being checked for a possible concussion after blowing a tire on his way to the first workout of spring training.  —  Manager Fredi Gonzalez says he got a call from Hanson shortly after 7 a.m. Monday.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman says stalking scandal has been ‘difficult,’ won't let it affect job with Bombers  —  Cashman: I'm going to continue to do my job to the best of my abilities  —  New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman addresses the media in Tampa for the first time since the news of the stalking scandal broke.

Yanks' Rivera on retirement: I know, won't say  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Adding to a mystery that will last the whole season, 42-year-old Mariano Rivera arrived at spring training on Monday and said he knows if he will retire at the end of the season.  However, he said he won't tell anyone.

Westbrook hopes less of him is more  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Jake Westbrook hopes to bring more to the Cardinals rotation this year than he did during an inconsistent, frustrating 2011.  He will attempt to do so by bringing less of himself into camp.  —  Westbrook threw himself into an intensive diet …

Giants tell Posey not to block plate this season  —  Scottsdale — , Ariz. - It is not a hint, or a suggestion, or a plea, but a direct order: Manager Bruce Bochy has told catcher Buster Posey not to block the plate this season.  —  “I'll take this out of Buster's hands,” …

Rangers sign Cotts to Minor League deal  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers have signed left-handed reliever Neal Cotts to a Minor League contract.  He will not be in Major League camp, but he will report to the Minor League side.  —  Cotts has not pitched in the Major Leagues since 2009, when he pitched for the Cubs.

Kendrys Morales to take another step in rehab from broken ankle  —  Angels slugger Kendry Morales hits a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium in the 2010 season.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / April 21, 2010)  —  Tempe, Ariz.—