Report: Rangers “Aggressively Pursuing” Manny Ramirez  —  The winter of our discontent appears to be metamorphosing into the winter of abundant confusion.  According to a Spanish-language report filed late Thursday afternoon by ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas, the Texas Rangers …

Francona: Scutaro is the shortstop  —  Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said last week that while Marco Scutaro is the incumbent shortstop, Jed Lowrie could challenge for playing time in spring training.  —  Manager Terry Francona didn't get that memo.  —  “Scutaro's our shortstop,” …

New Met Young: My arm is ready to go  —  It was with little surprise that Mets manager Terry Collins announced Wednesday that he was handing the ball to Mike Pelfrey as his opening day starter.  And a day later the Mets officially secured the final piece of their rotation when Chris Young passed …

Reds, Cueto Agree To Four-Year Extension  —  The Reds and right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $27MM, tweets Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com.  Reds GM Walt Jocketty says the deal is not done but confirms that the sides are close, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)  —  After winning back-to-back National League West titles and making consecutive NL Championship Series appearances in 2008-09, the Dodgers fell to fourth place last year.  As if its first losing record since 2005 wasn't bad enough …

Yankees reach deal with Jones … The Yankees have reached an agreement with veteran outfielder Andruw Jones on a one-year deal worth $2 million plus $1.2 million in performance bonuses.  —  Jones, 33, is a veteran of 15 seasons in which he has made five All-Star teams and won 10 Gold Glove awards.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is damaging its legacy  —  Ray Doswell is on the phone.  You might know that he is the interim president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and you might know that place is in serious trouble.  —  Ray is a good man.  Smart, passionate, thoughtful.

Hearing to begin over Bonds perjury trial evidence  —  SAN FRANCISCO—The refusal of a convicted steroids dealer to testify at Barry Bonds' perjury trial has already left the prosecution without key evidence, and the defense wants even more of it barred.  —  Just how much damage Greg Anderson's decision …

Molding of Clay advances  —  So now the real journey is about to begin for Clay Buchholz.  —  This is the first season of the rest of his career.  From here on, he begins to answer the question, “Is he an elite starting pitcher?”  —  His numbers last season shouted yes …

CBA Year  —  The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) expires on Dec. 11, 2011.  That means from now until a new contract is reached, we will be hearing about negotiations, what the players want to gain, what the owners hope to accomplish.

Blue Jays Sign Dominican Lefty Labour  —  The Blue Jays have agreed to terms with 16-year-old Dominican lefthander Jairo Labour for $350,000.  —  Labour, who is 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, became eligible to sign when the 2010 international signing period opened on July 2, but he developed …

Wakefield won't rule out pitching after 2011  —  BOSTON — Tim Wakefield will turn 45 in August, at which point he will be in the latter stages of his 16th season with the Red Sox.  Is this definitely going to be the last season of Wakefield's career?  —  “No, no, no,” said Wakefield, who is entering the final season of his contract.

Four Mets pitchers train with FDNY  —  They wore official FDNY protective gear, not elf apparel.  But four pitchers from the New York Mets got into the act of dropping down the side of a building Thursday, too, pulling a page from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman's playbook.