[bigben]

Frank Thomas remains a viable target for the A's. The former White Sox star, who has missed most of the past two seasons, is making progress as he recovers from two different breaks in his left navicular bone (ankle), according to his agent, Arn Tellem. "It's all favorable,'' Tellem said about the results of recent X-rays and a bone scan. "The doctors are all optimistic, and I think the A's are waiting for Frank to be cleared later in the month.'' Oakland general manager Billy Beane said Thursday that he prefers not to comment on medical matters but added, "It's a situation we've been monitoring throughout the winter and one we'll continue to monitor.''


Red Sox star David Ortiz said last night he believes there is a good chance he will sign a long-term contract extension with the club before the start of spring training. Ortiz is due to be paid $6.5 million this season in the last year of the two-year, $12.5 million extension he signed in May 2004. Ortiz said his agent, Fernando Cuza, has spoken this winter with both principal owner John W. Henry and CEO Larry Lucchino, and that they expressed great interest in striking a deal soon.

While the agent for Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez says that Ramirez remains open to a trade, the Orioles instead could deal shortstop Miguel Tejada for Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu, FOXSports.com has learned. The Phillies have proposed an Abreu-for-Tejada exchange with the intention of playing Tejada at third base. The Orioles want pitching in addition to Abreu, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations.


The Cubs finally may have found a taker for Corey Patterson: the Baltimore Orioles. Miguel Tejada, however, is not part of the deal. While Baltimore is no closer to making a blockbuster deal involving Tejada, the Orioles are "closing in" on a deal that would send a minor-leaguer to the Cubs for Patterson, according to one industry source. Club officials would not confirm specifics of the proposed trade, but one source suggested the minor-leaguer would not be one of the team's "top five or so prospects."


Nothing will happen as far as Corey Koskie coming back to the Twins until spring training, according to a person who knows what is going on. At that time, if Toronto hasn't dealt Koskie, look for Twins owner Carl Pohlad to go out of his way to get Koskie back here if Toronto will pick up a good share of that big contract. Nobody felt worse than Pohlad did when Koskie left here, and he told Koskie so when they had lunch after Koskie signed with Toronto.


Once they make official the guaranteed-money portion of their deal with Reggie Sanders, the Royals are expected to designate for assignment pitcher Kyle Snyder and pitching prospect Devon Lowery to make room on the 40-man roster for Sanders and pitcher Joe Mays. Injuries have slowed the progress of Snyder, 28, the seventh overall pick in the 1999 draft whose $2.1 million bonus out of North Carolina still ranks among the Royals’ biggest. In 13 games last season, Snyder went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA.


With the Angels days away from a high-profile trial against their host city, Commissioner Bud Selig said he has no plans to encourage the team to settle its lawsuit with Anaheim. "The Angels are going to have to pursue this the way they feel they have to," Selig said.

Two weeks from today, Robert Castellini should officially assume control of the Reds. The final step in the process that will transfer majority ownership of baseball's oldest professional franchise from Carl Lindner to Castellini is scheduled to take place Jan. 19. That day, owners of Major League Baseball's other 29 teams will vote on Castellini's bid during their regular meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. "I think that's probably going to happen," MLB spokesman Rich Levin confirmed Wednesday. "It'll take place at the full owners' meeting, there will be a vote, and depending on the vote it'll be approved or not."

The Yankees are close to signing Al Leiter to a minor league contract to compete for a bullpen job in spring training. Leiter, 40, had indicated that last season would be his final one in the majors. But he enjoyed his time with the Yankees and the organization felt he had sufficient spark in his arm to attempt one more reunion. "He'd be an insurance policy," GM Brian Cashman said. "He would come in to compete for the bullpen to get lefties out like he was doing in the playoffs. That is what we are talking to him about." It is also possible that Leiter — as Joe Girardi did in spring 2004 — will go through the exhibition season, see there is no role for him and simply move into the YES broadcast booth for the regular season.



Veteran Chan Ho Park is owed about $10 million and will get a long look in the spring. He was a combined 12-8 with the Rangers and Padres last season with an ERA 5.73. It would be hard to eat a contract as large as his, but he would have to be impressive in the spring to stick around.

The Tigers have expressed interest in Miguel Tejada, who would like to be traded. The Tigers tried to sign Tejada two years ago as a free agent. They offered him a reported $60 million, but he ended up signing a six-year, $72 million contract with the Orioles instead. At the time, he also thought the Orioles had a better chance of contending. Now Tejada, 29, is upset with the strides, or lack of such, the Birds have made in that direction. Most of the speculation has centered on Tejada, who batted .302 last season with 26 home runs and 98 RBI, possibly being traded to the Red Sox in a mega-deal for Manny Ramirez. The possibility of such a deal already has fluctuated, however -- so much so that other teams have called to express interest.



Manny Ramirez emerged from his silence yesterday — and doused all speculation about a trade to the Mets. After agitating for a trade for months, Ramirez flip-flopped and claimed he'll be back with the Red Sox in 2006. His primary reason? He doesn't want to play in the National League. "There will be no trade; I'm staying in Boston, where I'm familiar with the system and where I have a lot of friends, especially David Ortiz," Ramirez said. adding later, "I know the American League system. That's one reason I don't want to go to the National League. "I also want to play for a contender," he said. "And I think with Boston I'm assured of that."


Phillies GM Pat Gillick said any further pitching additions would likely come through trades because the free-agent market, weak from the start, has been picked over. He has a surplus of outfielders and has dangled Bobby Abreu and Jason Michaels. Pitcher Robinson Tejeda, who can start or relieve, has also drawn interest.


The Nationals' other prominent injured player, second baseman Jose Vidro, is also undergoing rehabilitation to recover from an injury, in Vidro's case his chronically shaky right knee, which was surgically repaired in September 2004. Thomas said Vidro, who only played in 87 games last season due to knee and ankle problems, likely won't be ready to participate in full drills when spring training begins, but should be ready for the regular season opener, April 3 in New York against the Mets.
__________________