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 …

Inside the Phillies: Hamels says focus is baseball, not money  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - If Cole Hamels really believes everything he said Monday - and there is no reason to think otherwise - then the youngest of the Phillies' three aces should have a contract extension in place by opening day in Pittsburgh.

Rockies commit to Jim Tracy ‘indefinitely’ with new deal  —  Rockies manager Jim Tracy hits during a spring training baseball workout on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Darron Cummings, The Associated Press)  —  SCOTTSDALE — In an offseason defined by change …

Tampa Bay Rays say Brignac-Rodriguez shortstop battle will come down to little things  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — The biggest position battle in Rays camp will be at shortstop, and the decision between Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez may be determined by the little things.

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.

The Tao of a slim Blue Jay Brett Cecil  —  DUNEDIN, FLA.— From Tuesday's Globe and Mail  —  Third base coach Brian Butterfield was one of many who did a double-take upon spotting left-handed starter Brett Cecil, who lost 33 pounds since last seen in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform.

Free agent Ivan Rodriguez hoping for another shot  —  DETROIT (AP) - Ivan Rodriguez is working out daily to keep his 40-year-old body in shape, hoping he'll get a chance to play this season.  —  The 14-time All-Star and 13-time Gold Glove catcher insists he's not ready to retire - yet.

Dice-K throws in bullpen, on ‘very good pace’  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka threw a bullpen session on Monday.  However, even though Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said the right-hander looks and feels good, Matsuzaka is not expected to pitch in a Grapefruit League game this spring.

The Making Of “Homer At The Bat,” The Episode That Conquered Prime Time 20 Years Ago Tonight  —  On Feb. 20, 1992, more American homes tuned into The Simpsons than they did The Cosby Show or the Winter Olympics from Albertville, France.  A foul-mouthed cartoon on a fourth-place network bested …

Crawford not ruling out return by Opening Day  —  Left fielder puts rough first season with Red Sox behind him  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — For Carl Crawford, the final indignity of a season gone horribly wrong was that line drive off the bat of Robert Andino at Camden Yards that glanced off …

2012 MLB Wins Over/Unders  —  New York 93.0 o-115 Detroit 94.0 o-115 Texas 94.0 o-115  —  Tampa Bay 87.5 o-122 Kansas City 78.5 u-119 Los Angeles 89.5 o-135  —  Boston 87.5 o-115 Chicago 77.5 o-115 Oakland 73.0 o-115

The baseball gospel according to Garfoose: Q and A with former Blue Jay Dirk Hayhurst  —  Dirk (The Garfoose) Hayhurst isn't your typical relief pitcher.  Known for his mythical creation called a Garfoose, a “fire breathing, magically empowered, indestructible, Wi-Fi enabled, half-giraffe half-moose …

Buster Posey told not to block plate  —  After a violent collision at home plate ended Buster Posey's season in May last season, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy has instructed his All-Star catcher to no longer block home plate when a player is trying to score.

The City of Montreal will honour Gary Carter  —  Montreal will honour the memory of former Expos catcher Gary Carter.  —  Montreal will honour Gary Carter.  —  City council unanimously approved a motion on Monday to offer condolences to the family of the veteran Expos catcher, who died of brain cancer last week at 57.

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 .