Manny Ramirez and Dodgers are still talking

Manny Ramirez still doesn’t have a new offer from the Dodgers, but General Manager Ned Colletti said he and Scott Boras, the player’s agent, are still talking.

They have been since Friday.

“We still have differences on what we think, but we’re still talking,” Colletti said Monday.

As for another Boras client, outfielder Andruw Jones intends to be an everyday player, the agent said, adding, “We’re just looking for a situation.”

The Dodgers agreed last week to trade or release Jones by Jan. 15 in exchange for restructuring his contract. Jones, who is still owed $22.1 million, will be paid about $5 million next season and the remainder of the money will be deferred.

Boras stressed that Jones never demanded to be traded or released from the Dodgers. The idea for him to leave, Boras said, came out of a meeting he had in November with Colletti and Manager Joe Torre. Boras said he then relayed the thoughts to Jones.

“Both parties made a decision that it was best for Andruw to get a fresh start somewhere else,” Boras said. “We amicably worked out a deal to get this done.”

The Dodgers are focused on acquiring pitching, especially in the bullpen, according to Colletti. All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman remains a possibility. The Dodgers remain open to re-signing Takashi Saito, to whom they didn’t tender a contract last month. But, Colletti said, “we haven’t heard a peep back.”

-- Dylan Hernandez

The Chicago Cubs and free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley reached a preliminary agreement on a $30-million, three-year deal, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

A switch-hitter, Bradley batted .321 with 22 homers for Texas while leading the American League with a .436 on-base percentage. He made the All-Star team while serving primarily as a designated hitter.

In Chicago, he will fill the Cubs’ need for a left-handed bat in the middle of the order and will be used mostly in right field even though he has played 100 games in the field just once -- in 2004 with the Dodgers.

The Tampa Bay Rays added a big bat for the middle of their batting order, agreeing to a $16-million, two-year contract with Pat Burrell.

The 32-year-old spent the last nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, who defeated the Rays in the World Series a little over two months ago. He hit .250 with 33 homers, 33 doubles and 86 runs batted in last season.

Carl Pohlad, a banker whose Minnesota Twins won two World Series titles during nearly his nearly quarter-century as owner, died at 93.

TENNIS

Ivanovic wins first-round match over Kvitova

Tuning up for the Australian Open, top-seeded Ana Ivanovic began her 2009 season with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Petra Kvitova at the Brisbane International at Brisbane, Australia.

Amelie Mauresmo, whose ranking has slipped to No. 24 from No. 1 in 2006, fended off two set points in the first before beating Jelena Dokic, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5). On the men’s side, Jarkko Nieminen advanced with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 win over an ailing Marcos Baghdatis and Jurgen Melzer beat Mardy Fish, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4).

Fourth-seeded Andy Roddick moved into the second round of the Qatar Open at Doha with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Ivan Navarro. . . . Dominik Hrbaty upset James Blake, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1), to lead Slovakia to victory over the defending champion United States at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia.

ETC.

Hatton agrees to fight Pacquiao in Las Vegas

Ricky Hatton agreed to fight his May 2 junior-welterweight bout against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, the final stumbling block before the fighters sign their contracts, Hatton’s promoter said.

Galaxy forward Landon Donovan will join Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga on loan during the MLS off-season.

Donovan is scheduled to return March 8, two weeks before the Galaxy opens the season against D.C. United on March 22.

Active military personnel and their families will be admitted free to the Bob Hope Classic PGA Tour event Jan. 21 to 25.

Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller sued the Minneapolis Police Department, alleging officers violated his civil rights, used excessive force and concealed videotape evidence when they subdued him during an arrest last April.

Former NBA player Antoine Walker was charged with drunk driving in Miami Beach, further hurting his chances of playing again.

Former McDonald’s basketball All-American Jasimine Dixon has transferred from Rutgers to UCLA and will be eligible to play for the Bruins after the completion of the 2009 fall quarter.