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.

Guillen: Derek Jeter ‘the perfect man’  —  About an hour before Ozzie Guillen called him “the perfect man” and “the best thing ever in the game,” Derek Jeter found a few minutes to chat about his future place of work.  —  Yankee Stadium is going, going ... a few months from being gone.

Dodgers announce stadium improvement plan  —  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled a four-year upgrade plan for Dodger Stadium on Thursday that owner Frank McCourt said amounts to a new home for the team built around the nearly 50-year-old core of the old.

Phillies 3, Brewers 1  —  Suppan gets no help from offense  —  The Milwaukee Brewers are a team built around offense.  They hope to pitch well enough and make enough plays in the field to allow the hitters to carry the club.  —  That's what makes days such as Thursday at Miller Park so frustrating for the home team.

‘Curse’ jersey nets $175K for charity  —  BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox jersey secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in a failed curse attempt sold Thursday for $175,100 in a charity auction.  —  The bid was the highest of 282 for the battered No. 34 David Ortiz jersey …

Reds don't want to rush Bailey, Bruce  —  Pitcher, outfielder developing, growing at Triple-A Louisville  —  CINCINNATI — Two-fifths of the Reds' rotation hasn't been getting it done.  The offense has sputtered as some hitters have been slow to heat up.  —  Help is only a phone call away …

Infected thumb sends Schneider back to NY  —  Breaking news: Brian Schneider has been sent to New York with an infected left thumb that may require a DL trip.  He just landed in New York 40 minutes ago.  —  There will likely be a roster move to activate Gustavo Molina.

3 UP: Mussina, Rangers and Mets vs. Nationals  —  1. Mike Mussina had his best start of the season on Wednesday night, holding the White Sox to two runs over seven innings.  But here is some cold water: Mussina continues to have difficulty with the long ball this season.

Kielty has surgery, out 4 to 6 weeks  —  The Coco Crisp trade watch, such as it is, probably can be called off for the time being.  —  Bobby Kielty, the veteran center fielder in waiting in Pawtucket, underwent surgery on his left hand and is expected to be out from four to six weeks.

Harold Reynolds joins SNY as Mets analyst  —  Harold Reynolds' comeback continues.  —  Reynolds, who was fired by ESPN in 2006, allegedly for sexual harassment, has been hired by SportsNet New York as a studio analyst on Mets telecasts.  —  “I've never worked on a ‘local’ broadcast,” Reynolds said.

Crede Returns to the White Sox, but for How Long?  —  CHICAGO — There were hours, too many depressing hours, when Joe Crede of the White Sox had doubts about his future.  Not his baseball future, but his future as a healthy man.  Crede experienced so much pain in the days after back surgery …

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 …

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.

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.”