Manny Ramirez's agent continues to negotiate with Dodgers  —  Scott Boras says he's still working with the team on a possible contract for the All-Star slugger, who hasn't accepted the latest two-year, $45-million offer that includes a player option for 2010.

It's Official: Rijo, Baez Out [Update]  —  From Barry in the Dominican, again:  —  Jose Rijo just emerged from a 10-minute meeting with Nationals officials, including assistant GM Mike Rizzo.  He was relieved of his duties as a special assistant to General Manager Jim Bowden.

Reggie Jackson has talking-to with A-Rod  —  Well, if Alex Rodriguez shrugs off all his demons and posts his typical Hall of Fame numbers, we'll know whom to blame ...  This is the sort of thing that makes the Yankees so easy to despise.  —  Hit the baseball, when it counts.  Really?

Dodgers agree to terms with ...  ... I'll give you a hint, it's a guy who played a key role for the 2004 Red Sox as the team ended it's 86-year World Series title drought.  But no, it's not Manny Ramirez.  The Dodgers have agreed to terms with ... Doug Mientkiewicz, according to two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Spring Game 2: Rays at Yankees  —  YANKEES (1-0)  —  Pitching today: Phil Hughes followed by Phil Coke, Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte, Jon Albaladejo, Mark Melancon.  —  RAYS (0-1)  —  Kennedy 2B  —  Crawford LF  —  Aybar DH  —  Ensberg 3B  —  Zobrist SS  —  Kapler CF  —  Richard 1B

In '09 debut, Beckett ‘free and easy’  —  Veteran righty, Francona pleased with first spring appearance  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Unlike the last time he took the mound in a game for the Red Sox, Josh Beckett didn't need anti-inflammatories just to make it bearable.

Gwynn's not guilty by association  —  As if Tony Gwynn didn't have enough in his glove, dealing day-to-day with college kids, trying to build a baseball power at San Diego State, attempting to do the coaching job he thought would be as easy for him as ripping a base hit though the 5.5 hole.

Santana scratched from Friday start  —  Left elbow tenderness leads to precautionary move for Mets  —  Words no one in this camp can accept without squirming — Johan Santana has been scratched from his scheduled start because of pain in his elbow — were spoken Thursday morning.

Lincecum signs $650,000 contract  —  The Giants and Tim Lincecum have reached agreement on a one-year, $650,000 contract, a source told The Chronicle.  Lincecum then confirmed the figure.  That constitutes a 62 percent raise over the $405,000 he earned last year.  There is actually a split component to the deal.

Bonser likely out for the season  —  Twins pitcher suffered torn right labrum and rotator cuff  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Twins will likely be without pitcher Boof Bonser for the entire 2009 season after doctors discovered partial tears in the labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder during arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday.

Gardner and Swisher Stand Out In Yanks' Win  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Brett Gardner's son, Hunter, was born last November and attended his first baseball game on Wednesday with his mom.  It's probably a good thing he doesn't understand what he's watching yet, because his father stepped out of character with his first swing of the season.

Solving the Digital Blackout Blues  —  Liberation! … —MLB Club Official (Sports Business Journal)  —  That anonymous club official was interviewed before the financial world collapsed in September, so you can forgive him for seeming to have a weird set of priorities.

Jerry never wants DH  —  The home team in spring-training games makes the call on whether there's a DH, and usually even National League teams use one the first few weeks of spring training.  Not Jerry Manuel.  He wants his pitchers hitting all spring, so the Mets won't use a DH at home at all during the Grapefruit League season.

Yankees to wear special '09 caps  —  Hey, in case you haven't heard, the Yankees are opening a new stadium in 2009!  —  Major League Baseball press release: