MLB
– Yankees’ RHP Mariano Rivera said Monday in camp that he is likely to retire after the 2012 season. Rivera told reporters that he has made a decision about his future, but declined to reveal what that decision is. Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger said Mo “sounded like a man at the start of a farewell tour.” The 42-year-old enters 2012 with a 2.21 career ERA and 603 career saves.
– The Athletics have signed DH Manny Ramirez to a minor league contract. Ramirez will earn a salary of $500K if he eventually lands a spot on Oakland’s 25-man roster and is able to maintain it. The 39-year-old still has to serve a 50-game PED suspension and seems doubtful to take on anything more than a part-time DH role once he is finally cleared to play.
– Red Sox’ manager Bobby Valentine said Monday that RHP Bobby Jenks (back) is a “long way away” from throwing. Jenks underwent two back surgeries this offseason after posting a brutal 6.32 ERA across 19 relief appearances in 2011. Valentine called Jenks “a real back burner guy” on Monday and said it’s doubtful that he’ll appear in a Grapefruit League game this spring. Jenks is unlikely to pitch in the majors before May.
– D’Backs’ SS Stephen Drew (ankle) fielded grounders Monday for the first time since fracturing his ankle last July. Drew, 28, told reporters earlier this month that he is “optimistic” about getting back to 100% health by Opening Day. And after feeling no pain or discomfort during Monday’s workout, he would seem to be on the right track.
– Orioles’ 2B Brian Roberts (concussion) has been hitting off a tee and playing long toss in camp. Roberts had to skip the O’s annual FanFest in January due to lingering post-concussion symptoms, but all indications are that he’s now feeling better. The Orioles are said to be in “wait-and-see mode” as the 2012 season approaches.
NFL
– A team source tells NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora that the Rams will not use the franchise tag before the March 5 deadline. Free agent WR Brandon Lloyd told PFT on Monday that he would be open to receiving the tag, but La Canfora says it’s not happening. The Rams would then being their offseason in need of two wide receivers. The Patriots are expected to be in the mix for Lloyd.
NHL
– Flyers’ D Pavel Kubina has expressed interest in re-signing with Philly. “If I play well for this team and they want me, I don’t want to go anywhere and test the water. That is the way I am and hopefully it will go that way.” The 34-year-old will become a UFA on July 1. He was acquired from the Lightning on Saturday.
– Panthers’ F Matt Bradley (concussion) is out indefinitely. Bradley slammed himself into a stanchion near the Florida bench while trying to check Ducks’ F George Parros on Sunday.
WWE
– Irvin Muchnick and Anthony Roberts have released a book for Amazon Kindle investigating Signature Pharmacy, which years ago served as an online dealer of steroids, human growth hormone and prescription drugs to famous entertainers and athletes, including professional wrestlers of the WWE variety. In lists obtained by the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and ESPN in August 2007, Randy Orton, Dave Bautista (Batista), Adam Copeland (Edge), Robert Huffman (Booker T), Shane Helms, Mike Bucci (Simon Dean), Anthony Carelli (Santino Marella), Charles Haas, John Hennigan (John Morrison), Darren Matthews (William Regal), Ken Anderson (Mr. Kennedy), Eddie Fatu (Umaga), Shoichi Funaki (aka Funaki), Chris Mordetsky (Chris Masters), Chavo Guerrero, Sylvain Grenier, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Brian Adams (Crush) were all identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, the site raided by Albany County and Florida law enforcement agencies in February 2007 for distributing drugs to clients who had not been examined by doctors. WWE handed suspensions to ten wrestlers upon the news breaking on August 30, 2007: Copeland, Huffman, Helms, Haas, Matthews, Anderson, Fatu, Funaki, Mordetsky and Chavo Guerrero. WWE also pledged to make future Talent Wellness Program violators public after November 1, 2007.