A's sign shortstop Cabrera for $4 million  —  Buzz up!  —  PHOENIX - Shortstop Orlando Cabrera has signed a one-year $4 million deal with the Oakland Athletics.  He will replace the light-hitting Bobby Crosby, who is still on the roster but apparently out of a job.

For Reyes, goal made to order  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Jose Reyes now has added incentive for the Dominican Republic to advance far in the World Baseball Classic.  Jerry Manuel said Sunday that a lengthy absence from camp, such as reaching the March 23 finals at Dodger Stadium …

Joe Torre's “The Yankee Years.”  —  Joe Torre will be back in town on Tuesday, July 7th, reassuringly on view behind the batting cage at Citi Field as he prepares his Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series against the Mets.  Last year, he took the Dodgers into the National League Championship Series …

The Nats' New Mascot  —  Suggested ledes for tomorrow's newspaper story about the moments-ago unveiling of the Nats' new mascot Screech, which was, by far, the highlight of my week.  —  * First the Washington Nationals got rid of the turkey.  Now they've done away with the chicken.

Alex Rodriguez's compliant cousin  —  First cousin has done everything for A-Rod, perhaps even injecting him with steroids  —  A few years ago, Roger Ball called his good friend Yuri Sucart about getting tickets to a Texas Rangers game for a female friend.

Masterson shines, but Orioles beat Red Sox 5-3  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — There is little question about Justin Masterson's importance to the Boston Red Sox [team stats] this season.  —  The only uncertainty is his role.  —  Masterson pitched two scoreless innings Monday in Boston's 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Ex-Yank pitcher Sturdivant dies at 78  —  Tom Sturdivant, a control artist and stalwart starting pitcher who won a combined 32 games for the 1955 and 1956 Yankee championship teams, has died.  —  Sturdivant, who died Saturday in Oklahoma City, was 78.  —  Before an arm injury in 1958 hampered …

Spring Game 6: Yankees at Astros  —  YANKEES (2-3)  —  Pitching today: Chien-Ming Wang followed by Tomko, Jackson, De La Rosa, Dunn, Claggett, Kontos.  —  ASTROS (1-4)  —  Matsui 2B  —  Bourn CF  —  Berkman 1B  —  Lee LF  —  Blum 3B  —  Pence DH  —  Erstad RF  —  Kata SS

A-Rod joined by ex-wife before WBC workout  —  JUPITER, Fla. - On the heels of a meeting with MLB investigators and as he prepares for the World Baseball Classic, it was another bizarre scene featuring Alex Rodriguez.  —  Minutes before the Dominican Republic team was about to take the field this afternoon …

No, Cubs, no?  Peavy saga not over yet  —  Righty denies singing song, but trade status subject to change  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — Jake Peavy spent three innings of a spring training game Sunday shoving what-might-have-beens in the Cubs' faces.  —  Then he started preparing to switch teams.

Padres work out top Latin prospects  —  Club hosts invitation-only camp at premier Dominican facility  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — A year ago, the Padres made a big splash by signing five international players for a total of $5 million and opening an $8.5 million training facility in the Dominican Republic.

MLB Payroll Efficiency, 2006-2008  —  The Commissioner's Office released the final baseball payrolls for 2008 in late December.  Not surprisingly, the New York Yankees spent $75 million more than the next highest team (Boston Red Sox) and $126 million over the average MLB team.

For Now, Kasten Is In Charge  —  Team President Stan Kasten greeted a few media members just before lunch today by saying, “I'm here at the advice of my advisors.”  Those would be his PR guys, Mike Gazda and John Dever, who notified Kasten of the Fourth Estate's collective desire to chat.

Sabathia content with simulated start  —  Prized lefty's 28-pitch outing yields one ball hit into fair territory  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Not long after his teammates boarded their bus for Kissimmee on Monday, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia lumbered onto the mound at George M. Steinbrenner Field and began to throw.

Minor League Transactions  —  Boston Red Sox  —  The slick-fielding, switch-hitting Ochoa made his big league debut last July 12, as the Giants searched for someone—anyone—who could provide more offense than Brian Bocock.  Ochoa, who had signed as a minor league free agent, fit the bill, even in batting .200/.244/.267.

DeJesus could miss the season  —  This according to Joe Torre, but Stan Conte said it's too early to know for sure.  DeJesus has a broken left tibia.  He was admitted to a local hospital, at least overnight, and they will decide tomorrow whether to do surgery.  Good thing the Dodgers signed Furcal for three more years.