Rivera, Free Agent to Be, Closes Door on Boston  —  Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' closer, smiled while he was told some of the recent developments regarding the Boston Red Sox.  Curt Schilling will become a free agent after the season.  Manny Ramírez is not yet in camp.

For Red Sox, Manny is a keeper  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - Notes from spring training:  — The Rockies would listen if the Red Sox wanted to revive Manny Ramirez-for-Todd Helton discussions, but such a move would make little sense for the Sox unless they absolutely, positively decided that they no longer could tolerate Ramirez.

New Baseball Statistic, With a Nod to an Old Standard  —  As newfangled baseball statistics go, on-base plus slugging percentage, or O.P.S., has become mainstream.  Stadium scoreboards display it right alongside batting average.  It has even appeared on the backs of Topps baseball cards.

Hawpe's hope: Prove he can hit lefties  —  Outfielder could approach all-star status with rounded game  —  Tucson - Of all the reasons why the Rockies believe their offense will go from acoustic to electric, the most obvious to the naked eye is Brad Hawpe.

Spring Training: McCutchen on fast track  —  Premier prospect could reach Pirates by season's end  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — A point guard in basketball is a better player when his forwards finish plays near the hoop.

Sosa eyes comeback, dismisses steroids talk  —  Surprise, Ariz. - It's not often the national media converge on the outskirts of Phoenix for something other than a college bowl game.  But on this blustery Friday, a battery of reporters sat in front of Sammy Sosa with cameras rolling.

Former can't-miss kid going unnoticed  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — A year ago, he was the new star in camp.  Reporters begged for a moment of his time and he managed to avoid most of them.  He was the centerpiece acquisition off a tumultuous offseason, a can't-miss kid with a World Series MVP …

Texas closer to signing Young long term  —  Rangers hope to complete five-year deal for All-Star shortstop  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers have made significant progress toward signing shortstop Michael Young to a five-year contract extension that would ensure that he stays with the team through the 2013 season.

Ethier admits he played hurt last year  —  Outfielder's slump coincided with shoulder injury in August  —  VERO BEACH, Fla. — So it turns out Andre Ethier wasn't merely fatigued and distraught when he hit the wall and disappeared from the Dodgers' lineup late last season.  —  It turns out he was hurt.

Brewers' expectations up with payroll  —  Owner Attanasio optimistic as deeper roster prepares for 2007  —  PHOENIX — The Brewers' principal owner dropped in at Maryvale Baseball Park on Saturday, when the full squad formally kicked off a season of higher expectations.

Bean Has Big Stats and Big Stature, and Little Chance of Making Yankees  —  She could see the lights of Yankee Stadium as the plane descended.  Ruth Bean's husband worked there.  —  She was 35 weeks pregnant.  Her husband, Colter, had urged her to stay home in Birmingham, Ala., to take care of herself.

Pavano hit on foot by batted ball  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Carl Pavano's 13th pitch in batting practice was an unlucky one.  —  The New York Yankees pitcher was hit on the bottom of his left foot by a liner off the bat of infielder Alberto Gonzalez during his second BP session on Saturday.

Rockies sign Steve Finley to minor league contract  —  TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The Colorado Rockies signed veteran outfielder Steve Finley to a minor league contract on Saturday.  —  Finely is a non-roster invitee at the club's spring training camp.  —  Finley, who turns 42 next month, has played 18 Major League seasons.