Bowden reaches second round

One day after Jim Beattie was invited back for a second interview for the Red Sox' general manager opening, the club announced that Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden also has been asked back for a second round of discussions.

Beattie, the former executive vice president of the Orioles, lost that job at season's end when the club elevated vice president Mike Flanagan into the position. Bowden, a Weston, Mass., native, recently signed a brief extension through April to remain as Nationals GM, though the club is expected to conduct a search for a permanent general manager whenever the team is sold. Bowden did not return a call last night seeking comment.

It's worth noting that Bowden was in Miami Wednesday night to meet with prized free agent righthander A.J. Burnett, whom the Sox are believed to have interest in. Bowden is in the unique position of attempting to woo Burnett to Washington while also maintaining interest in the Sox GM job.

The Red Sox also announced the club intends to interview additional candidates whose names have yet to be announced. Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino is due back in town today after two days spent attending the owners' meetings in Milwaukee.

Lessard joins Sox staff

The Red Sox continued to overhaul their medical staff by naming New England native and longtime Arizona Diamondbacks head trainer Paul Lessard to the same position.

Lessard will take over from Jim Rowe, who has been asked to coordinate sports medicine throughout the organization. Scott Waugh will return as the club's rehabilitation coordinator, said Dr. Thomas Gill, who took over as the team's medical director in February.

''We are pleased to make these changes that are designed to increase and improve the quality of care that the players receive in our organization," Gill said.

Lessard, 43, has been the only head athletic trainer in the eight-year history of the Arizona franchise.

He is a Stamford, Conn., native and graduate of Northeastern University. He had previously been head athletic trainer at Boston University and Holy Cross. He has also worked for the New York Yankees' organization for a year and with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

Owners OK drug policy

It took six months of negotiating for baseball commissioner Bud Selig to get the tough steroid policy he wanted, mere minutes for baseball owners to approve it.

Owners voted unanimously to ratify the new drug deal, which includes a 50-game suspension for a first positive test. The Players' Association executive board still has to sign off on the deal, but that's considered a formality.

Selig proposed an almost identical policy in April.

Cubs sign lefty Eyre

Free agent reliever Scott Eyre agreed to terms for a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. Terms of the deal, which includes a player option for the 2008 season, were not disclosed. Eyre, 33, led the league with 86 appearances pitching for San Francisco last season, going 2-2 with a career-best 2.63 ERA. His agent, Tommy Tanzer, said Eyre also received serious interest from the Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox, but he wanted to remain in the National League . . . Jason Bay, coming off two of the best career-starting seasons in Pittsburgh Pirates history, agreed to an $18.25 million, four-year contract. Bay followed his 2004 NL Rookie of the Year season by hitting .306 with 32 homers, 101 RBIs, 110 runs scored, 21 stolen bases, and a .402 on-base percentage in 2005 . . . Orioles pitcher Todd Williams was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after causing a traffic accident. The 34-year-old Williams was arrested early Wednesday after a three-vehicle crash that caused no injuries.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.