Athletics Extend Sean Doolittle  —  The Athletics have agreed to a five-year contract extension with left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle, the club announced (via Twitter).  The deal covers the current season and runs through 2018, after which time Oakland will have a pair of options for the 2019 and 2020 campaigns.

Teixeira expected in lineup on Sunday  —  ST. PETERSBURG — First baseman Mark Teixeira played three innings in a Minor League game on Thursday at the team's complex in Tampa, Fla., and is expected to return to the big league lineup on Sunday against the Rays.  —  “He had a really good day,” manager Joe Girardi said.

There was a time — and not too long ago — Cubs were destination  —  NEW YORK — Alfonso Soriano spent much of his time in the Yankees' clubhouse early Wednesday talking about his losing seasons with the Cubs and the trade to New York last summer that he thinks will give him a shot at reaching another World Series.

Cole Hamels poised to return to rotation  —  In the last 2 days, the Phillies have watched the two pitchers atop their rotation post two of the team's top pitching performances of the young season.  Cole Hamels looks plenty ready to join the party.  —  In what was very likely …

Nathan records save; dead arm feels ‘livelier’  —  DETROIT — When Joe Nathan talked about dead arm last week, he also talked about how quickly it can come back to life.  That resuscitation seems to have started.  —  “Today was more how I felt, being able to finish,” Nathan said Thursday …

MLB: Puig's journey from Cuba  —  With Puig was Yunior Despaigne, then 24.  A former national-level Cuban boxer and a friend of Puig's from their teens, Despaigne had spent the previous year recruiting Puig to defect, under the direction of a Cuban-born resident of Miami named Raul Pacheco.

Yanks' Teixeira tests leg, 'couldn't be happier'  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira singled in five at-bats Friday during his second extended spring training game since injuring his right leg.  —  Teixeira played five innings of defense in an intrasquad game at the Yankees' minor league complex.

Rational behavior: Why system is rigged against young pitchers  —  Usually when it seems like there's a rash of something, it just seems like it.  —  All these elbow injuries lately, though?  It's an actual rash.  In recent seasons, top high school pitching prospects have essentially …

Braves-Phillies rainout makeup date announced  —  NEW YORK — The Braves-Phillies game that was rained out Tuesday in Philadelphia will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on June 28, with start times of 2:05 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.  —  The makeup game will turn …

Seattle Mariners statement on Ji-Man Choi  —  SEATTLE, Wash. - The Seattle Mariners issued the following statement on today's announcement by Major League Baseball that minor league infielder Ji-Man Choi had been suspended for 50 games for a violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program:

Ranking the 10 best pitching rotations in MLB this season  —  Fresh off his first Cy Young, Max Scherzer leads a strong Detroit rotation into the 2014 season.  —  DETROIT — Max Scherzer had a good offseason.  He collected his Cy Young Award; married his college sweetheart, Erica May …

Freddy Garcia close to signing in Asia  —  The 37-year old appears headed to Asia after being released by the Braves at the end of spring training.  —  Veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia is close to signing with an undisclosed team in Asia, according to major league sources.