Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers complete $45M, 2-year deal … LOS ANGELES — The winter of discontent in Mannywood is over.  —  Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers officially agreed Wednesday on a $45 million, two-year contract that keeps him with the NL West champions.

Japan silences China in Classic opener  —  Starter Darvish tosses four hitless innings; Ichiro 0-for-5  —  TOKYO — Team Japan won the opening game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, beating a punchless China club, 4-0, before a flag-waving, camera flashing, mostly Japanese crowd of 43,428 in Tokyo on Thursday night.

A-Rod's hip problem not new  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The problem with Alex Rodriguez's right hip was not a spring training revelation.  A-Rod's condition dates to last season, when manager Joe Girardi said “he had some minor issues” with it.  —  On Wednesday, the Yankees remained hopeful …

New stance is on tap  —  After dismal '08, Varitek changes  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dave Magadan first wanted Jason Varitek to alter his lefthanded batting stance two years ago, a notion met with resistance by a proud man.  Varitek's style - tapping his front foot for timing …

The Special, Electric And Great Jordan Zimmermann  —  This spring, Jordan Zimmermann has thrown five innings — just enough time to make a strong impression, and still not enough time to find a major league hitter who can reach base against him.  This afternoon, Zimmermann …

Rivera and Matsui on the way back  —  Two guys with importance to the Yankees' season are on the comeback trail today: Hideki Matsui and Mariano Rivera.  —  Matsui is in the lineup for the Yankees today against Team Canada.  He's actually getting in there with a little more time before Opening …

A Stupid Position Battle: Yankees Right Field, or, How Much Better Would the Yankees Be With Manny Instead of The Swish?  —  OK, I wasn't planning on posting something like this, and maybe the issue is just that I like Nick Swisher, and blah blah blah.  But while I no longer live in New York …

Broadcasting, wedding appearances and Red Sox ghosts: An interview with Carl Beane, the voice of Fenway Park  —  Editor's note: With a new season around the corner, it's time to roll out what will hopefully be a long series of interviews with some of the movers and shakers in the Red Sox world.

The root (part 2)  —  Last week, I discussed two methods of evaluating a player's monetary worth, marginal revenue product and free market returns.  (Unless you're familiar with the basic concepts, I'd suggest reading that article first.)  This week, we put these theories to the test.

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.

Pedro throws two innings, says he feels great  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - It was a day without A-Rod for the first time in a long while, but Pedro Martinez filled the void nicely.  —  Martinez pitched two innings, his first game work since Sept. 25 with the Mets, and allowed two runs …

Three's Company  —  The expressions on the faces of Manny Acta, Mike Rizzo and Stan Kasten on Sunday after the resignation of Jim Bowden told a vivid story.  They ranged from relief to smiles.  No tears for sure.  Seldom have three men been so at peace with a colleague blowing up.