A's still pursuing slugger Manny Ramirez

The Oakland Athletics still have strong interest in signing slugger Manny Ramirez, who presents a low-risk investment for the rebuilding franchise. If things come together, the 39-year-old Ramirez is expected to sign him to a deal. He first must serve a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy before he could play. The sides could reach agreement as soon as the next few days or sometime next week, and Ramirez then likely would travel from Florida to Arizona to undergo a physical before joining Oakland's spring training camp for full-squad workouts starting Feb. 25.