Dodgers, Manny agree to two-year deal  —  Long negotiation process ends with $45 million contract  —  PHOENIX — The Dodgers have agreed in principal on a two-year, $45 million deal to re-sign free agent left fielder Manny Ramirez, a baseball source said on Wednesday morning.

Yanks' Best Athlete: Cody Ransom?  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - You might think Mariano Rivera is the best athlete on the Yankees.  Or Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, C.C. Sabathia, Andrew Brackman, Austin Jackson or Johnny Damon.  But you would be wrong.  —  At least, that's according to Damon …

Strawberry says he would have taken steroids  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez regrets that he took steroids.  Darryl Strawberry wishes that he had.  Or at least had the opportunity to try them.  That's what the outspoken Strawberry revealed yesterday when asked if he would have chosen …

Inbox: Can Tazawa jump to Majors?  —  Plus questions about Beckett's health, Bay and the future at third base  —  Recognizing that there is still a lot of baseball to play in Spring Training, what do you think the chances are that Junichi Tazawa could pitch his way onto the Major League club without ever spending a day in the Minors?

Johan says he wants Opening Day start  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - Johan Santana tossed a 46-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and then predicted he would take the ball on Opening Day in Cincinnati on April 6.  —  “All plans have to have room for modification,” said pitching coach Dan Warthen …

Kasten: “I'm a fan of continuity”  —  I am gonna flesh out a longer news story about the Rizzo promotion.  (The linguistics of this are tricky: Is he the interim GM?  No. Acting GM?  That's about right.)  But in the meantime, here is a transcript of what Stan Kasten and Mike Rizzo both said this morning...

MIKE PIAZZA: HIS BAT AND HIS BACK  —  Baseball writers spend a lot of time in press boxes together, and the close and frequent proximity does not always foster positive relationships.  For example, Joel Sherman of the New York Post and I do not have any kind of relationship.  We have not talked for years.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer to seek second opinion on elbow  —  PHOENIX — Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer will get a second opinion on his sore right elbow, and it was uncertain whether he'd be ready to begin the season.  —  “His Opening Day start is definitely in jeopardy …

James Shields to start opener for AL champion Tampa Bay Rays  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Rays manager Joe Maddon didn't wait to watch Tampa Bay's best pitchers in spring training.  He picked right-hander James Shields on Wednesday as the team's Opening Day starter.  —  Shields

Rockies win B game against Arizona Diamondbacks  —  Attention fans: The good news is that the Rockies won today.  The bad news?  It doesn't count in the standings, as their 5-0 victory came in a B game against Arizona Diamondbacks' minor leaguers, save for pitcher Jon Garland and catcher Miguel Montero.

Cain added to camp  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Phoenix - In a move designed to ease the shortage of healthy outfielders in camp, the Brewers have added prospect Lorenzo Cain to their list of non-roster invitees.  So, now, he's officially in their camp.

How the steroids mess was missed  —  Via Buster's blog, a very good article from NY Times' Harry Araton shedding some thoughts and insight into how and why the steroids mess was missed for so long: laziness, fear of being ostracized, fear of alienating your contacts, etc. (emphasis mine)