MLB notes: 13 players offered contracts

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FREE AGENCY • The World Series champion Boston Red Sox made $14.1 million qualifying offers to free agents Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli and Stephen Drew on Monday, the first deadline day of baseball's offseason.

Thirteen free agents received the offers, up from nine last year. The Yankees also extended offers to a trio of players: second baseman Robinson Cano, outfielder Curtis Granderson and pitcher Hiroki Kuroda.

Players accepting are signed for next season. If a player signs elsewhere, his former team gets an extra draft pick at the end of the first round next June as compensation.

Others receiving the offers were Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, Cincinnati outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, Kansas City pitcher Ervin Santana, St. Louis outfielder Carlos Beltran, Seattle designated hitter Kendrys Morales and Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz.

Free agents can start talking contracts with all teams on Tuesday.

Rodriguez accused of using stimulant

yankees • Alex Rodriguez tested positive for a banned stimulant in 2006, The New York Times reported Monday, an accusation a spokesman for the New York Yankees' third baseman denied.

The newspaper cited two unidentified people involved with baseball's drug-testing program.

Baseball's joint drug agreement specifies the discipline for a first positive test for a banned stimulant is six additional unannounced drug tests over the year following the violation. A second stimulant violation would result in a 25-game suspension.

Oakland to keep team for now

athletics • Owner Lew Wolff insists his team is staying in Oakland. For now, anyway. Wolff said Monday through the team that the A's will extend their lease at the Oakland Coliseum and "look forward to another great season."

The team's managing partner responded to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle saying the A's might play across the bay in the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park if no short-term lease was reached to continue their home games in the rundown Coliseum.

From wire reports