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Players injured during the World Baseball Classic will have their salaries paid by the WBC organization while they are unable to play for their major league teams, according to an MLB source.

The representatives for Jorge Soler have said that the next round of bids for the Cuban free-agent outfielder is due this weekend, according to sources.

Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, in Detroit Tigers camp shadowing general manager Dave Dombrowski, said he is in talks with Major League Baseball about a job with the league.

Manny Ramirez has hired new agents and filed for reinstatement from Major League Baseball's retired list, sources said Sunday.

At a time when MLB wants to restore the Dodgers' brand after years of damage under the ownership of Frank McCourt, Earvin "Magic" Johnson is a major player in a group that wants to buy the team.

The Orioles are making progress on a new three-year deal for shortstop J.J. Hardy that would run through the 2014 season, sources told ESPN.com.

The expectation around baseball is that outfielder Manny Ramirez will be placed on waivers early this week, according to baseball sources.

The Dodgers drafted the Zach Lee with their first pick in baseball's amateur draft on Monday night. On Wednesday morning, Lee took the first steps toward playing football and baseball at Louisiana State, rather than signing with the Dodgers.

Chien-Ming Wang, arguably the most intriguing free-agent pitcher still unsigned, will make his decision about which team to sign with in the next week to 10 days, according to sources.

While it would be premature to say Don Mattingly is regarded as the heir apparent to Dodgers manager Joe Torre, there may come a day when he will emerge as the leading candidate to replace Torre.

Right-hander Brad Penny cleared waivers today and signed with the San Francisco Giants, sources said Monday.

Dozens of players have been pulled back from waivers after being claimed this month. In all likelihood, all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman will be another on that list.

As Brad Penny is being moved through waivers, at least two NL contenders -- the Giants and Marlins -- have expressed interest in the veteran right-hander, sources told ESPN.com.

Trade talks for Toronto ace Roy Halladay are "dead," but the club remains willing to listen to offers leading up to Friday's deadline, Blue Jays general manager J.P Ricciardi said in an e-mail Thursday.

The use of banned substances by one player impacts many others. Would Manny even be in L.A. today minus steroids? Would the Cubs be world champs?

In light of Manny Ramirez's testing positive for a banned substance, MLB and the Players Association must now push for the cheaters to be expelled from the game.