Thomas, released by Blue Jays, returns to Oakland  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Big Hurt is coming back to the Bay Area.  —  The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms with designated hitter Frank Thomas, who was released Sunday by the Toronto Blue Jays to become a free agent after becoming disgruntled about his playing time.

Marlins Notebook: Manager says Badenhop needs to believe  —  ATLANTA — The Marlins have told rookie right-hander Burke Badenhop to “trust his stuff,” and not worry about contact when he makes his third start in the majors tonight.  —  “He walked five and that's not him,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said about the last outing.

Breaking news: Harold Reynolds joins SNY  —  Harold Reynolds, formerly of the Alaska Goldpanners, Seattle Mariners and ESPN, and currently of MLB.com, has joined SNY as a part-time studio analyst, the network will announce this morning.  —  Reynolds will make his debut Friday night on the pre …

It's Show time for Masterson  —  Though he has yet to throw a pitch above Double A, Justin Masterson will get that chance this afternoon.  In Boston.  —  With the team cycling through pitchers at an impressive rate - they have scratched two straight starters hours before game time …

Ryan wan't to avoid ‘knee-jerk reactions’ to Texas Rangers' bad start  —  rdurrett@dallasnes.com  —  Rangers president Nolan Ryan said Wednesday that he's disappointed and surprised at how the club has played but doesn't want to make any “knee-jerk reactions.”

Don't drink the water!  —  Two signs on the doors leading from the visitors' clubhouse at U.S. Cellular Field to the first-base dugout read, “NO BOTTLED WATER ON THE BENCH.”  —  What's this?  Athletes can't drink water?  Even in the humid Chicago summers?  —  Here's the explanation I got:

Harper: Mussina proves that less is Moyer  —  CHICAGO - In the home dugout Wednesday afternoon, someone asked Ozzie Guillen how his White Sox would go about beating Mike Mussina Wednesday night.  —  Guillen made a face as if caught completely off guard.  —  “He's still pitching?”  —  Ouch.

Answer Man: David Wright talks New York cabs, Al Pacino  —  The world sits at the feet of New York Mets slugger David Wright, who has seemed at ease with it all since his 2004 rookie season.  Wright's bat, glove and sometimes his bare hand have put him in the company of the greatest young stars …

Buried David Ortiz jersey nets $175K for charity  —  BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox jersey secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in an attempt to “curse” the Yankees sold for $175,100 in a charity auction.  —  The Jimmy Fund, a cancer charity, didn't immediately reveal the name …

Cubs get 10,000th win, need 10 innings vs. Rockies  —  DENVER - Most of the first 9,999 victories in Cubs history were fairly easy compared to Wednesday night's 10,000th at Coors Field.  —  In fitting fashion for a team with as much wacky history as the Cubs, they mounted a ninth-inning comeback …

Yanks' Rasner Waits for Chance, but Isn't Sitting Around  —  CHICAGO — The Yankees' commitment to young starters has been tested so far, with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy combining for an 0-5 record and a 9.20 earned run average.  But a much less heralded prospect is quietly dominating for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Santana does it all as Mets end three-game slide  —  Mets pitcher Johan Santana rounds first base after hitting a double against the Nationals in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's game in Washington.  (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais / April 23, 2008)  —  WASHINGTON - Read into this whatever you want, but the

Houston holding tight to Oswalt  —  Astros, ace right-hander dispel rumors of possible trade  —  CINCINNATI — An amused Roy Oswalt sat at his locker on Thursday morning, chuckling at the line of questioning reporters threw at him regarding his supposed interest in waiving his no-trade clause.

Old-school Jocketty values positivity  —  Reds' new GM known for evaluating talent, making deals  —  CINCINNATI — To anyone who has followed Walt Jocketty's career, the scenario he undertook on Wednesday should sound pretty familiar.  —  About 13 years ago, in the fall of 1994 …