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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Is Dodgers owner Frank McCourt souring on Manny? … GLENDALE, Ariz. — Despite seeming to be practically pennies apart in his negotiation with superstar free agent Manny Ramirez, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt suggested again here Sunday that the sides were “starting from scratch.”

For All His Hard Work, Bowden Needn't Look Elsewhere for Blame  —  Jim Bowden was never going to be the Nationals' ultimate general manager, the man who, the franchise hoped, would oversee a potential champion.  His methods were too suspect, his moods too unpredictable, his reputation too checkered …