Lots of chatter, no sign for Rangers  —  Club leaves winter meetings without acquiring a top name  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rangers talked an awful lot with agents for Barry Zito, Jay Payton and Kenny Lofton at the winter meetings.  They talked to every club in the big leagues about potential pitching trades.

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.

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 …

Sometimes, madness is appropriate  —  Yes, at first glance, it seems a little — what's the word here? — let us say "surprising" that the Royals gave pitcher Gil Meche a five-year, $55 million deal.  However, upon closer inspection, it seems clear that ...  OK, whoa, whoa, let's slow down a little bit.

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.

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 …

Sox Lose Dotel  —  According to sources, right-hander Octavio Dotel has turned down an offer from the Red Sox to accept a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $5 million from the Kansas City Royals.  —  Dotel's deal also is believed to include as much as $2 million in incentives that could bring the deal to $7 million.

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.

Zambrano delay could be costly  —  He's on track to be top '08 free agent  —  ORLANDO — While St. Louis handed Chris Carpenter to a three-year extension Monday on the first day of the winter meetings, expecting he would be their ace through 2011, the Cubs concentrated on solidifying their starting rotation.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Near-misses mark O's week … LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. // The lobby at The Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel, which bustled with activity all week, was mostly empty when Gregg Clifton and Terry Bross emerged from the elevator a couple of hours after midnight.  —  The representatives …