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.

Washington Nationals to fire special assistant Jose Rijo in wake of prospect age scandal  —  The Washington Nationals have decided to fire special assistant Jose Rijo and will shut down the team's academy in the Dominican Republic as part of a restructuring of the team's operations in Latin America …

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Yankees lower partial-view seat price to $5  —  The price of watching a fraction of Yankees games dropped to a fraction of its original cost yesterday, with obstructed-view bleacher seats abruptly falling from $12 per game to $5.  —  Lonn Trost, the team's chief operating officer, made the announcement during an interview on WFAN.

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.

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.

On Day 1, Mets, Ryan Church and Luis Castillo Ace Exams  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One by one, the balls landed on the outfield grass, guided from the Mets' bats to the opposite field by some sort of otherworldly force.  No other explanation could suffice for Jerry Manuel …