Pavano: I'll win Bombers back  —  Carl Pavano's extended absence from the Yankees' clubhouse over the past two years has been something of a running joke among his teammates.  One injury would appear just as another had healed, keeping the pitcher on the disabled list and the Yankees on edge …

Pirates make pitch to reliever Kolb  —  Free agent was All-Star closer for Brewers in 2004  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates, seeking insurance for their late-inning relief, have made a contract offer to free-agent right-hander Dan Kolb.

Fogg stays in fold with one-year deal  —  The Rockies renewed their commitment to starter Josh Fogg on Friday, but failed to bridge the gap with free-agent reliever Dan Kolb.  —  Colorado agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.625 million contract with Fogg, avoiding a potentially acrimonious arbitration hearing.

Ex-Sox pitching coach Berres dies  —  Pierce: Kenosha native 'never wanted to take credit for anything'  —  Ray Berres, the pitching professor whose "doctorate" in mechanics helped the White Sox staff to rank consistently among the best in baseball for nearly two decades, died Thursday in Kenosha after a lengthy illness.

Ex-Cardinal Belliard named as target in extortion case  —  Former Cardinals second baseman Ronnie Belliard is the professional athlete at the center of a federal extortion case, the brother of the accused said Friday.  —  Milo Edwards said the name of his brother, George H. Edwards, 48 …

Rangers' present could be future  —  The Rangers have long said that they want Michael Young and Mark Teixeira, who they consider franchise players, to remain in the organization for the long-term.  The time to ensure that happens might be now.  —  Few top-tier players remain with their teams once …

Morneau signs one-year contract — for now  —  Still open to a multiyear deal with the MVP, the Twins also signed Nick Punto, Juan Rincon and Lew Ford.  —  It's not the multiyear deal the Twins hoped to complete (yet), but they did agree to terms Friday with reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

'Toughest division' tougher  —  Indians ready to make serious run in AL Central  —  At one time or another in the last two seasons, the American League Central has been the home to four of the strongest teams in the major leagues.  The only one that didn't make it even to the playoffs …

Magowan sends letter to fans regarding Bonds' new contract  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Giants owner Peter Magowan sent a letter to  —  about 27,000 season-ticket holders this week explaining why the  —  club decided to re-sign free agent slugger Barry Bonds for another  —  season.

O's sign RHP Shuey to minor league deal … BALTIMORESUN.COM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS  —  The Orioles have signed right-handed pitcher Paul Shuey to a minor league contract and invited him to their major league spring training camp.  —  Shuey, 36, spent 10 years in the majors …

'I don't want anyone to end up like me'  —  Plagued by post-concussion syndrome and battling an amphetamine addiction, former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson is a shell of his former self  —  Ted Johnson, who had angrily left the Patriots after learning he would be inactive for the season opener in 2002 …