Royals give contract extension to Soria  —  Closer gets early birthday gift: a deal with options through 2014  —  MIAMI — Nice birthday present for Royals closer Joakim Soria.  —  Soria, who will turn 24 on Sunday, received a three-year contract extension through 2011 followed by three option years …

Girardi opens pan-Joba's box again  —  And Brian Cashman thought he was done with those chatty managers with a tendency to speak out of school.  —  The Yankees' general manager was mildly irritated last season when then-manager Joe Torre publicly disclosed the “Joba Rules,” …

Young Rays have passed Yankees in standings and in talent  —  Having spent a little time being both, I feel qualified to say this: Being young is better than being old.  —  Generally speaking, running is preferable to standing still, energy is better than entitlement and today is better than yesterday.

Red Sox offense getting up to speed  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  The Red Sox [team stats] still have their share of pitching questions as they plod along in this 2008 season, but here's the good news: Perhaps like at no other point in their recent history …

Secret papers show how Yankees became richest team in sports  —  The Yankees are floundering in the standings but the team's reputation as the money machine of American sports is as dominating as ever.  —  The millions of dollars earned by the Bronx Bombers - whose estimated $1.2 billion worth makes …

Marlins' Uggla riding offensive wave  —  Florida (24-18) vs. Kansas City (20-22), Sunday, 1:10 p.m. ET  —  MIAMI — Dan Uggla's offensive fireworks in May have placed him in elite company among Major League second basemen.  —  Going into Saturday's contest with Kansas City, Uggla …

FORMER YANKEE ELLIS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE  —  Dock Phillip Ellis' voice reveals how much pain he is in.  The former pitcher speaks slowly, haltingly about his battle with cirrhosis of the liver.  “It's pretty bad,” Ellis said...  A-ROD GOES DEEP IN FIRST REHAB GAME

Notebook: Hamilton ready for a break  —  rdurrett@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Manager Ron Washington pulled Josh Hamilton aside in spring training and made it clear the slugger should tell him when he needed a break.  —  “He still reminds me even now,” Hamilton said.

A's end Braves' home winning streak at 8  —  ATLANTA (AP)—Jack Cust hit a solo home run and Ryan Sweeney added a three-run shot, and the Oakland Athletics held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Saturday night to end a season-worst four game losing streak.

Marlins announce Ramirez deal at site of new park  —  MIAMI — A brand new ballpark.  A star player with a long-term contract.  —  Times are changing for the Florida Marlins.  —  The Marlins formally announced the $70 million, six-year contract extension of shortstop Hanley Ramirez …

Soriano hits 2 more HRs, but Cubs lose  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Alfonso Soriano went deep again.  And again.  Nate McLouth's homer was the decisive one, though.  —  He hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Carlos Marmol in the ninth to help the Pittsburgh Pirates overcome Soriano's shots for a 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.