Gonzalez, D-Backs part ways  —  Gonzo is going, going, gone.  —  Luis Gonzalez's tenure with the Diamondbacks will end after this season.  Club officials informed the popular left fielder on Thursday they have no intention of bringing him back for a ninth season in 2007, The Republic has learned.

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.

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 …

Rusch out of danger, but clot keeps him in hospital  —  Serious injuries keep felling the Cubs, with pitcher Glendon Rusch the latest to face what could have been a life-threatening blood clot discovered Tuesday night.  —  The left-hander is out of danger after being taken …

RHP Benson wants to remain in Baltimore  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  BALTIMORE — Kris Benson intends to talk the Baltimore Orioles' front office during the offseason before making a decision on returning to the team in 2007.  —  Benson was traded from the New York Mets in January.

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 …

Teahen 'still sore' but already looking ahead  —  For now, that just means getting off the couch and heading back to Kansas City for a follow-up examination today on his surgically repaired right shoulder.  —  "It's still sore from the surgery," he said.  "So it's not like I have full range of motion yet.