Baseball news and notes

Red Sox: Manny Ramirez is in midseason form. The big bopper with his own style — on and off the field — showed up at camp Thursday, marking the first time in three seasons he’s beat Boston’s deadline for reporting to spring training. Right on cue, he came out with a curious comment. “I might be late two years in a row,” Ramirez said with a straight face, “but I’m always on time.” Whatever, his latest Yogi-ism came in Fort Myers, Fla.. Plus, there was this pronouncement: “I want to finish my career here.” MVP of the 2004 World Series, Ramirez helped the Red Sox win another championship last fall. The star left fielder is entering the final season of his eight-year, $160 million contract that has team options for 2009 and 2010 at $20 million each. “I want to stay here, but it’s up to them if they want to bring me,” Ramirez said. “But if they don’t want to bring me back, that’s fine. I know I’ll be a free agent after ’08 so that’s another thing that I’m looking forward [to].”
Blue Jays: At Dunedin, Fla., Frank Thomas said he’s not ready to call it a career — a switch from a year ago when retirement was on his mind. “Not at all, not at all,” he said. “I take care of myself and work hard. I still have my hand-eye coordination and can see a baseball great. Those are the things that make guys retire.” Thomas hit .277 with 26 home runs and 95 RBIs last season in the first year of a two-year deal with the Blue Jays. Toronto holds an option for 2009.

Rangers: At Surprise, Ariz., right fielder Milton Bradley practiced for the second day without limitations on his surgically repaired right knee. “He’s hitting, doing outfield drills and running,” manager Ron Washington said. “There are no restrictions at all, but we are going to keep an eye on him.” Bradley had offseason surgery after tearing up his knee on Sept. 23 when his manager, San Diego’s Bud Black, spun him to the ground while trying to keep him from going after an umpire.

White Sox: Chicago will honor the victims of a shooting rampage at Northern Illinois University by wearing the school’s baseball caps in their opening spring training game next week. After facing the Colorado Rockies Feb. 27, White Sox players will autograph the caps, which will be sent to the DeKalb, Ill., school and auctioned off to benefit a scholarship fund in memory of the five students who were killed.

Padres: Top prospect Chase Headley is being given a chance to win the starting job in left field. He made five starts at third base last year, but has never played left field in his pro career. “We think athletically it’s worth taking a look at,” manager Bud Black said. “I think the baseball instincts are there. On the physical side, we think he can do it. You combine that with the will and the determination to give it a shot, it’s there with this kid.”

Braves: At Kissimmee, Fla., third baseman Chipper Jones joined the can-you-top-this prediction competition between the Mets’ Carlos Beltran and Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins. “I really don’t care what’s being said,” he said. “The Phillies and the Mets know we’ll be competitive. They know we’ll be heard from.” Philadelphia claimed the East championship last season, backing up Jimmy Rollins’ preseason prediction. New York then acquired ace Johan Santana from Minnesota, prompting normally soft-spoken Carlos Beltran to proclaim the Mets are the undisputed favorite for 2008.

Associated Press