Swisher, A's agree on 5-yr, $26.75M deal  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Nick Swisher and the Oakland Athletics agreed Friday on a $26.75 million, five-year contract that also includes a one-year club option for 2012.  —  Swisher was hitting .286 with six home runs and 17 RBIs going into Friday night's game against Cleveland.

Prospectus Hit List: McNasty as They Wanna Be  —  Never a dull moment as the Red Sox take over the top spot on the Hit List.  Manny Ramirez gets touchy-feely with Julian Tavarez, but with four homers and a .744 SLG over his last nine games, he can do whatever he wants.

Mariners place RHP Jeff Weaver on 15-day disabled list  —  Mariners recall LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith from Tacoma  —  SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Bill Bavasi announced today that the Mariners placed right-handed pitcher Jeff Weaver …

Ban beer in clubhouse?  Then don't sell it to fans, either  —  WHEN TONIGHT'S game at Citizens Bank Park ends, a Phillies player may, if he chooses, walk into a room off the main clubhouse and help himself to a draft beer in a plastic cup.  —  As recently as 2 weeks ago, that wouldn't have been particularly remarkable.

Wakefield delivers knuckle sandwich  —  TORONTO — The petty bloggery, Barry blathering, and Papi peeving?  Excess baggage, the kind the Red Sox were more than happy to leave at the border.  —  When a trip has been as good as this one was for the Sox — five of six wins against the Twins and Blue Jays …

Hot to Trot  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - Trot Nixon, still wearing those camouflage undershirts and the scowl that conceals his warm-and-fuzzy side, didn't go through back surgery and come to Cleveland just to play it out.  —  Nixon is part-deity in Boston because of that very trait …

Pirates' new lineup paves way for 6-4 win  —  Rare burst of offense, Maholm???s rebound put down Cubs  —  CHICAGO — Well, what do you know?  —  "We got some runs," manager Jim Tracy said.  —  The Pirates, an offensive mess barely 16 hours earlier, amassed their highest run total since …

Bonderman out with blister; Tigers to bring up and start Vasquez on Sunday  —  MINNEAPOLIS - Jeremy Bonderman will miss his scheduled start Sunday night, and the Tigers will recall right-hander Virgil Vasquez to take his turn in the rotation.  —  Bonderman, the team's Opening Day starter …

JOE'S CONCERNS MOUNT, ON AND OFF FIELD  —  THE homestand did not end well, and the 3,000-mile airplane trip that awaited promised to be even longer and duller than usual.  The final score was 14-2, and there was some shoddy defense all around, and five days after looking like the most unhittable man …

Nationals hitting coach Mitchell Page takes leave of absence, Lenny Harris named interim hitting coach  —  The Washington Nationals today granted hitting coach Mitchell Page a leave of absence for undisclosed personal reasons and named Lenny Harris interim hitting coach.

AMAZIN'S AWAIT SOME MOTA HELP  —  In less than three weeks, the Mets could have a new impact pitcher and a reliever who could be a vital component to their bullpen.  —  Guillermo Mota could be eligible to return to the Mets on May 30, 19 days away.  Mota, who's suspended for the first 50 games …

AN ORDER OF TEXAS TOAST  —  RANGERS WHACK YANKS ON WAY OUT OF TOWN  —  The Yankees only mustered one real rally yesterday, and it came long after a 14-2 rout to Texas.  —  Knowing that the blowout was indefensible, team leaders instead pointed to the Bombers' play during a 4-3 homestand that, frankly, should've been better.

Astros activate RHP White from 15-day DL  —  HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros activated reliever Rick White from the 15-day disabled list Friday and sent Chris Burke to Triple-A Round Rock.  —  White has been out since April 25, when he strained a side muscle warming up in the bullpen.

Updating With The President  —  Fans are suffering through a tough first 6 weeks of the season?— asked SBF.  —  "Yeah, I hear you," replied Washington Nationals Team President Stan Kasten.  "Thankfully, none of them are suffering like I am.  It is a hard time.  Even though I have been through it.

Location, Location, Location  —  The location of a pitch is one important factor in determining its fate.  If a batter swings at a pitch thrown low in the strike zone, he has a good chance of hitting a ground ball, while if he swings at a higher pitch, there is a greater chance of him hitting the ball in the air.

Arrest puts Callaspo in limbo  —  May. 10, 2007 10:13 PM Infielder Alberto Callaspo's immediate future with the Diamondbacks is up in the air after he was arrested Thursday by Phoenix police on suspicion of assault on his wife and criminal damage.  —  Callaspo, 24, was booked …