Gonzalez unlikely to return to D-Backs  —  Veteran outfielder informed that team will not pick up option  —  PHOENIX — Luis Gonzalez's tenure in a Diamondbacks uniform will come to an end Oct. 1 when the club closes out the 2006 season against the Padres at Chase Field.

A BERNING IDENTITY CRISIS  —  BERNIE Williams sought out Joe Torre yesterday to ask his manager if here - less than three weeks until Game 1 of the playoffs - the Yankee manager could explain his role.  —  Torre could not.  He told Williams that, in essence, this is spring training …

Hicks wants to keep Young around  —  But shortstop, signed till '08, in no hurry to negotiate extension  —  ARLINGTON — Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Thursday that signing shortstop Michael Young to a contract extension is a priority for the club in the offseason.

Report: Liriano's MRI shows no new structural damage  —  Minnesota Twins fans can relax a little bit for the moment.  Francisco Liriano's MRI shows no new structural damage to his left elbow, two sources told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.  —  Liriano's MRI results were very similar …

DiNardo set to face O's  —  Boston (77-68) at Baltimore (63-82), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Lenny DiNardo will become latest member to take a turn on Boston's starting rotation carousel on Thursday night, when he takes the ball in the finale of a three-game series against the Orioles.

Notes: No news is good on labor front  —  Gibbons says issues being discussed on regular basis  —  BALTIMORE — Four years ago at this point in the season, baseball's collective bargaining agreement was the hot-button topic that trumped everything between the lines.  An election cycle later, it's almost a non-issue.

Notes: Barrett braces for return  —  Cubs backstop taking necessary precautions against injury  —  CHICAGO — Cubs catcher Michael Barrett saw a doctor on Thursday in hopes of getting the go-ahead to resume activities so he can play again this season.  —  Barrett has been sidelined since Sept. 2 …

Slender Soriano keeps slugging away  —  Left fielder one steal away from fourth 40-40 season in history  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano has been one of the best home run hitters in the last five years, yet he is often asked how he is able to hit the ball out of the park so often.

Minor-league year in review: Another wave sought to refresh top tiers  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Something surely is amiss with a Major League Baseball team's system when the parent club is younger than its top two affiliates in the minors, as was the case …

An eight-month probe uncovers evidence that Reggie Bush and his family appear to have accepted improper benefits from prospective agents while at USC.  —  An eight-month Yahoo! Sports investigation has revealed that Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and his family appear …

Mets to activate and start RHP Martinez on Friday  —  PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The New York Mets are on the verge of clinching their first division title in 18 years.  They also can celebrate the return of ace righthander Pedro Martinez.  —  The Mets will activate Martinez from the 15 …

Building the halls of justice  —  Editor's note: This article appears in the September 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.  —  There are six elements in sports that simply don't work: sideline reporters, All-Star voting, MVP voting, Halls of Fame, WNBA players participating in NBA All-Star Weekend …