Josh Hamilton shed no tears and used no prepared statement as he apologized and shared few details about his relapse with alcohol. Still, it was clear he was upset by what he had done. The Texas Rangers slugger and recovering drug addict said he had “three or four” drinks during dinner at a Dallas restaurant and bar Monday and continued drinking later that night.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Todd Coffey on a $1.3 million, one-year contract with a club option for 2013. The deal, announced Friday, will pay Coffey $1 million this season. The Dodgers hold a $2.5 million option for next season with a $300,000 buyout. Coffey was 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA in 69 games with Washington last season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Todd Coffey on a $1.3 million, one-year contract with a club option for 2013. The deal, announced Friday, will pay Coffey $1 million this season. The Dodgers hold a $2.5 million option for next season with a $300,000 buyout. Coffey was 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA in 69 games with Washington last season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers asked a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge on Friday to disallow claims against the team filed by Bryan Stow, the San Francisco Giants fan nearly beaten to death outside Dodger Stadium last spring. Stow and his family sued the Dodgers in California state court, then filed the claim with the federal court in July, weeks after owner Frank McCourt put the team in bankruptcy.

The Los Angeles Dodgers asked a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge on Friday to disallow claims against the team filed by Bryan Stow, the San Francisco Giants fan nearly beaten to death outside Dodger Stadium last spring. Stow and his family sued the Dodgers in California state court, then filed the claim with the federal court in July, weeks after owner Frank McCourt put the team in bankruptcy.

Along with a new uniform, Jose Reyes has a new, close-cropped look. The All-Star shortstop had his dreadlocks trimmed during a nationally televised haircut Friday on the MLB Network. “A little bit lighter. It’s going to take me a couple of days to get used to it,” Reyes said. He left the New York Mets in December for a $106 million, six-year contract with the Miami Marlins.

Along with a new uniform, Jose Reyes has a new, close-cropped look. The All-Star shortstop had his dreadlocks trimmed during a nationally televised haircut Friday on the MLB Network. “A little bit lighter. It’s going to take me a couple of days to get used to it,” Reyes said. He left the New York Mets in December for a $106 million, six-year contract with the Miami Marlins.

Josh Hamilton shed no tears, used no prepared statement as he apologized and shared few details about his relapse with alcohol. Still, it was clear he was upset by what he had done. The Texas Rangers slugger and recovering drug addict said he had “three or four” drinks during dinner at a Dallas restaurant and bar Monday and continued drinking later that night.

New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain has started throwing off a half-mound as part of a rehabilitation program after elbow ligament replacement surgery. Chamberlain threw at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Florida on Friday. The right-hander said the session on the 5-inch mound, which New York pitching coach Larry Rothschild and team vice president Billy Connors watched, went well.

New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain has started throwing off a half-mound as part of a rehabilitation program after elbow ligament replacement surgery. Chamberlain threw at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Florida on Friday. The right-hander said the session on the 5-inch mound, which New York pitching coach Larry Rothschild and team vice president Billy Connors watched, went well.

Bobby Cox is returning to the dugout — but only for one exhibition. The former Braves manager will be back in uniform to manage the organization’s top prospects against the current major leaguers on April 3. The game will be played at the home of the Braves’ Triple-A Gwinnett team near Atlanta.

Bobby Cox is returning to the dugout — but only for one exhibition. The former Braves manager will be back in uniform to manage the organization’s top prospects against the current major leaguers on April 3. The game will be played at the home of the Braves’ Triple-A Gwinnett team near Atlanta.

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated pitcher Jeff Niemann in salary arbitration Friday, improving clubs to 2-0 in decisions this year. Niemann will earn $2.75 million instead of his request for $3.2 million, arbitrators James Oldham, Howard Edelman and Mark Irvings decided after hearing arguments a day earlier.

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated pitcher Jeff Niemann in salary arbitration Friday, improving clubs to 2-0 in decisions this year. Niemann will earn $2.75 million instead of his request for $3.2 million, arbitrators James Oldham, Howard Edelman and Mark Irvings decided after hearing arguments a day earlier.

Pitcher Shaun Marcum and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a one-year contract worth $7,725,000, just ahead of the scheduled start of their salary arbitration hearing. Friday’s deal was at the midpoint between the $8.7 million and $6.75 million figures filed by the sides when they exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month.

Pitcher Shaun Marcum and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a one-year contract worth $7,725,000, just ahead of the scheduled start of their salary arbitration hearing. Friday’s deal was at the midpoint between the $8.7 million and $6.75 million figures filed by the sides when they exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month.

Right-hander Matt Garza has agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, just before the scheduled start of a salary arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla. Friday’s agreement was $725,000 below the midpoint between the $12.5 million the pitcher had asked for in arbitration last month and $7.95 million the Cubs had offered.

Right-hander Matt Garza has agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, just before the scheduled start of a salary arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla. Friday’s agreement was $725,000 below the midpoint between the $12.5 million the pitcher had asked for in arbitration last month and $7.95 million the Cubs had offered.

Even as he battles an aggressive form of brain cancer, Hall of Famer Gary Carter wouldn’t miss opening day for the college baseball team he coaches. Carter shook hands with each player on the Palm Beach Atlantic University team and watched about three innings of the game Thursday night. The Palm Beach Post (http://bit.ly/A9Q0qN ) reports the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Even as he battles an aggressive form of brain cancer, Hall of Famer Gary Carter wouldn’t miss opening day for the college baseball team he coaches. Carter shook hands with each player on the Palm Beach Atlantic University team and watched about three innings of the game Thursday night. The Palm Beach Post (http://bit.ly/A9Q0qN ) reports the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday dubbed the St. Louis Cardinals the “greatest comeback team in the history of baseball” thanks to their thrilling late-season charge into the playoffs and death-defying, seven-game triumph in last November’s World Series. The Cardinals were 10 1/2 games back at the end of August, but rallied to win a National League wild card spot on the last day of…

Outfielder Carlos Gomez and left-hander Manny Parra have agreed to 1-year deals with the Milwaukee Brewers, avoiding salary arbitration. Gomez’s deal is worth $1,962,500, up from $1.5 million. In addition to Gomez’s base salary, he can earn $25,000 each for 450, 475, 500 and 525 plate appearances.

Walking purposefully across a luxurious desert resort, Bud Selig was asked if he could stop to talk for a second. “I will, later … tomorrow,” Selig said Wednesday, without breaking stride. He’ll likely have plenty to talk about: himself. Baseball’s owners are expected to offer Selig a contract to stay on as commissioner another two years during meetings on Thursday, a deal that…

Catcher Jorge Posada is planning to retire after 17 seasons with the New York Yankee rather than pursue opportunities with other teams. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Saturday that the five-time All-Star catcher will announce his retirement this month. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not yet been made public.

Expecting no major moves before the start of spring training next month, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson thinks his payroll-cutting team can improve on last year’s 77-85 record and fourth-place finish in the NL East. On a conference call Thursday, Alderson said: “I think our greatest avenue of improvement is internal.

Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki says he’s been invited to spring training by the Seattle Mariners. The 30-year-old free agent says “I’ll be going to Arizona in February to compete for a job.” Kawasaki batted .267 with 161 hits in 144 games last season to help lead the Softbank Hawks to their first Japan Series championship in eight years.

Major League Baseball owners have ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement, sealing 21 consecutive seasons of labor peace through 2016. Owners voted unanimously to approve the deal during a telephone conference call Thursday. The players’ association announced Dec. 1 that its executive board had ratified the agreement, which was signed Nov.

Michael Cuddyer and the Minnesota Twins could soon end an employment that began when they drafted him out of high school in the first round in 1997. But general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday the team has not ruled out re-signing the versatile veteran, amid discussions with his potential replacement, fellow free agent Josh Willingham.

Mariners manager Eric Wedge says it’s hard to even think about the stabbing death of outfielder Greg Halman. Wedge said Tuesday during the winter meetings that Halman’s death is a horrible tragedy that is a reminder of how fragile life is. Wedge says he thinks about what Halman’s family is going through and his teammates.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spent part of his weekend rappelling down a 350-foot, 22-story building. Cashman took a few practice runs down the Landmark Building in Stamford on Friday morning, and on Sunday he donned an elf’s costume and successfully made the descent for the second straight year, joining “Santa”, “The Grinch” and another elf.