Major League Rule 5 Draft Selections  —  First Round  —  Pick  —  Team  —  Player, Pos., Previous Org.  —  *1.  —  Devil Rays  —  Ryan Goleski, of, Indians  —  Stats/Skinny: Hit .306/.391/.557 between Double-A Akron and high Class A Kinston.  Joins crowded A's outfield depth chart, but power potential gives him a chance

Talk of Misconduct Is Swirling Around Red Sox  —  The Boston Red Sox might think of the Yankees as the Evil Empire, but other people in baseball now seem to view the Red Sox as a team that feels it can operate outside the rules.  —  According to executives of several clubs …

Mets sign RHP Guillermo Mota  —  The New York Mets announced today that they have signed righthanded pitcher Guillermo Mota to a two-year, $5 million contract.  —  Mota, 33, went 3- with a 1.00 ERA in 18 games with the Mets after he was acquired along with cash considerations …

Bonds, Giants agree on one-year deal  —  Slugger, 21 homers shy of Aaron, set to re-sign for $16 million  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Giants agreed in principle on Thursday to re-sign slugger Barry Bonds for the 2007 season, said a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

Astros play deal or no deal  —  Trade for pitcher falls through, keeping them in Pettitte hunt  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - A pair of New York reporters, one from Newsday, approached Astros president Tal Smith yesterday morning and asked him about Andy Pettitte.

No deals, but Marlins believe progress was made  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA — Marlins General Manager Larry Beinfest was giving reporters an update on Florida's progress at the winter meetings Thursday when one of his assistants interrupted.  —  "Did you tell them about Bonds?''  Marlins VP Dan Jennings asked Beinfest.

Sox will gamble on youth  —  GM Williams plans to oversee a complete overhaul of rotation  —  ORLANDO — Win fast, White Sox.  —  And White Sox fans, go ahead and make plans to be busy with something other than watching baseball games in late-summer 2009, if not also '08.

A-Rod's the meal ticket  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - When Yankees general manager Brian Cashman dined with Scott Boras on Wednesday night here, they were accompanied by an even more high-profile guest: Alex Rodriguez.  —  "Cash and I were going to have dinner and Alex was in the area, so I gave Alex a call," Boras said.

Mets want to trade for Haren ... not Harden  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - The A's pitcher coveted by the Mets is not right-hander Rich Harden, but right-hander Dan Haren, according to major-league sources.  —  Several reports have indicated that the Mets want to trade for Harden …

Ohka offered Major League contract  —  Right-hander will begin second stint with club if he agrees  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Nationals have offered free agent Tomo Ohka a Major League contract, MLB.com has learned.  If he agrees to the deal, Ohka will begin his second stint with the organization.

Epstein working to save the season  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — There are turning points in everyone's baseball career, and this may be Theo Epstein's.  —  He is the general manager who led the Red Sox to their first world championship in 86 years, and we certainly will give him props …

Red Sox overspent for Lugo, Drew  —  While there hasn't been a huge flurry of activity at baseball's annual winter meetings and no real significant trades, there has been enough noise coming from the free-agent market to open some eyes.  —  Not surprisingly, there has been significant money put …