SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke is committed to supporting linebacker Aldon Smith like a family member in the wake of his latest legal trouble — and keeping Smith around for the long haul, too. "You continue to work as you would with any family member, you continue to work until they leave you no choice," Baalke said Friday in his annual sitdown with media leading up to the draft. "Does character matter? It does." Baalke repeatedly referenced the word "disappointed" during his 59-minute session when discussing a recent list of off-the-field problems for his 49ers, who lost in the NFC championship game to eventual Super Bowl winner Seattle. Regarding a May 3 deadline whether to exercise Smiths 2015 contract option, Baalke gave all indications he hopes to have the menacing pass rusher in a Niners uniform well into the future. Baalke said for 2015, "and 16, and 17 and 18." Smith was arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police say the 24-year-old NFL star was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became unco-operative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. The district attorney has referred the case for misdemeanour consideration. Baalke said Smith is "growing, starting to understand, starting to realize the importance of his own accountability." Yet this follows Smiths five-game absence last season to undergo treatment after his September DUI arrest. In November, Smith pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from a June 2012 party at his home. Investigators say several shots were fired, two partygoers were injured and Smith was stabbed. In the subsequent investigation, prosecutors say detectives found five unregistered, illegal weapons in Smiths house, including two Bushmaster rifles and an Armalite AR-10T. When it comes to how to best deal with Smith going forward, Baalke said thats going to be a process. "Thats still being discussed internally," Baalke said. "Everything factors in, you take a look at everything. The one word I can use to describe the situation is disappointing. The important thing is that its equally as disappointing to Aldon. "Like all of us, you have the keys to your own car. You make decisions and you live with the consequences of those decisions. Life is a growing process, its a growing process for all of us. He knows what needs to be done. Were all accountable. Each and every one of us in this organization is accountable." The 49ers also still hope to reach agreement on a long-term extension with quarterback Colin Kaepernick before the start of training camp. Baalke said the team would let the investigation play out regarding Kaepernick being linked to a Miami police report earlier this month involving a woman who passed out in a hotel and later woke up in a hospital not knowing how she got there. Kaepernick has strongly denied any wrongdoing via Twitter. "Any time an individual puts himself in a situation that becomes newsworthy, we certainly pay attention to it," Baalke said. "To say theres no concern, that would probably be a misrepresentation of the facts. At the same time, lets let this thing play out and lets see where it goes." In addition, cornerback Chris Culliver — who became famous for the wrong reasons when he made anti-gay remarks before the Super Bowl in February 2013 — has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanour hit-and-run charges and felony possession of brass knuckles from a March 28 arrest. "Are we disappointed weve had a string? Absolutely," Baalke said. "One is too many. So if ones too many, then five or six is way too many. This isnt something we take lightly. We expect a lot from our football players. We expect a lot from ourselves." He said he is sorry a few players have hurt the reputation of the entire roster and organization. "Im adamant in my thoughts that this is a good group of men. Have they made some mistakes? Absolutely they have," Baalke said. "Im not going to sit up here and defend them. There is concern. We hold ourselves to a high standard. The community deserves that. We represent the community." Baalke also addressed his working relationship with coach Jim Harbaugh: "To say its always two rams butting heads is so false and misleading. To say theres no tension would also probably be false and misleading, but its good tension." Notes: Baalke said he hasnt heard from LaMichael James or his representatives to formally request a trade, but knows the RB said on Twitter he could benefit from a change. Baalkes understanding is James isnt at the voluntary off-season program because of a new baby at home. ... LG Mike Iupati is out of a walking boot for his broken left leg suffered in the NFC title game. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.orgCustom Nike Minnesota Twins Jerseys . -- Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone above his left eye but has no other serious injuries after being hit in the face by a line drive in a spring training game. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Store .com) - Jeff Teague finished with a game-high 26 points and eight assists as the Atlanta Hawks held off the Utah Jazz, 98-92, on Friday. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/ . -- Miguel Angel Jimenez quickly shifted his focus back to the Ryder Cup after winning his first Champions Tour event. Cheap Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping . The 22-year-old slugger, who is no stranger to adversity, made up for it at the end. Custom Nike Atlanta Braves Jerseys . The Red Sox maintained a share of the AL wild-card lead Tuesday night, using four home runs to beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 and set up a dramatic conclusion to the regular season. The skidding Red Sox were 6-19 this month before rebounding to edge the last-place Orioles.BOSTON -- Daric Barton didnt bat and barely got on the field. He still made the game-saving play. Yoenis Cespedes drove in the go-ahead run on an infield single with the bases loaded in the 10th and Barton, playing first, cut down the potential tying run at third in the bottom of the inning as the Athletics averted a three-game sweep with a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. "He made a terrific play," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "Thats a gutsy play. Thats a play that if the runner gets over, they can win the game with a hit. A gutsy play." Bostons Will Middlebrooks opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on the hit when centre fielder Coco Crisp had the ball bounce away for an error. With Barton playing in, guarding for a bunt, Jackie Bradley Jr. bounced it to first. Barton fired to third, cutting down Middlebrooks. "My whole goal was obviously to get the guy at third whether it was a bunt or a ground ball to me," Barton said. "It feels good. Ive learned to be ready. Anything can happen at any time, but Ive learned to be ready when they call my name and go out there and do my job." Barton came in when Josh Reddick left with a sprained ankle in the ninth. Jim Johnson (3-2) then got Dustin Pedroia to bounce into a game-ending double play. Middlebrooks was somewhat surprised and impressed by the play. "I was breaking off the bat. I didnt know it was to his right, to his left or right at him. Unfortunately it was right at him," he said. "This is the big leagues. People are supposed to make plays like that. Normally you dont see a first baseman that far in, but he made a good play. Hats off to him." Oakland closed a 10-game road trip 5-5 and avoided its second three-game sweep in its last four series. The Athletics were swept at home by Texas April 21-23. "Barton makes a heck of a heads-up play to cut down Will going to third," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Theyre playing in. Hes got to trust in his abilities. He throws a strike across the diamond to cut down Will." A.J. Pierzynski hit a solo homer for the Red Sox, who failed to reach .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season. Jed Lowrie had a two-out double off Chris Capuano (1-1) and after the bases were loaded with an intentional and regular walk, Cespedes beat out a slow roller to third against reliever Burke Badenhop.dddddddddddd Johnson also got a double-play grounder by Jonny Gomes to end the ninth. With the Red Sox trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Pierzynski homered into Bostons bullpen. It could have been worse for the Athletics when right fielder Reddick had trouble with pinch hitter Gomes fly ball in the wind. He was charged with an error, allowing runners to reach second and third with one out. But reliever Fernando Abad got Bradley Jr. out at first on his attempted safety squeeze and Luke Gregerson retired Pedroia. Boston starter John Lackey gave up two runs on five hits in six innings, walking three and striking out four. Oaklands Sonny Gray also pitched six, giving up two runs and six hits, walking two with three strikeouts. Cespedes gave Oakland a 2-1 edge in the sixth with an RBI double off the Green Monster. The Athletics grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on Brandon Moss two-out RBI single. Grady Sizemores RBI double tied it in the fifth, but Gray escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam when Bradley bounced into a 1-2-3 double play. In the third, Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts relay from shallow left cut down Donaldson trying to score. Crew chief Jeff Kellogg requested a replay review to see if catcher Pierzynski was illegally blocking the plate. Replays showed he moved his foot and blocked the corner just before he caught the throw, knocking Donaldsons foot away as it attempted to reach home. The play was upheld. Melvin challenged a call on the first pitch of the game -- when Crisp was called out on a 5-6-3 grounder. Replays were ruled inconclusive. NOTES: Reddick limped off after grounding into a DP. ... Boston DH David Ortiz played in his 1,999th career game. ... The Athletics open a 10-game homestand Monday when left-hander Scott Kazmir (4-0, 2.11 ERA) faces Seattle right-hander Chris Young (1-0, 3.04). ... The Red Sox are off Monday before beginning a two-game series on Tuesday against Cincinnati when lefty Felix Doubront (1-3, 5.70) goes against the Reds Homer Bailey (2-2, 5.50). ... Sizemore went 2 for 2 before being pinch hit for, raising his career average to .321 (59 of 184) against the As, his best against any AL team. ' ' '