Dealings would need 'abrupt change' to beat deadline  —  After all the hoopla surrounding the $51.1 million bid the Red Sox posted to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka, it appears a contract may not materialize.  —  Negotiations between the team and the Japanese star pitcher have nearly broken down, the Boston Herald reported Sunday.

Family Supports Pettitte's Return to Yankees  —  After the veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte and the Houston Astros reached the World Series in 2005, he figured he would pitch only one more year because he did not expect his arm to hold up.  —  When Pettitte, 34, became a free agent …

Week in Review: Few Trades but Feverish Spending  —  Commissioner Bud Selig might regret hailing this as "the golden age of baseball."  He has said it so often that he has convinced his constituents, the clubs.  He has done such a good job of convincing them that they have started a gold rush …

Fearing Inflation at the Same Time as Fueling It  —  Two winters ago, after the Dodgers signed the oft-injured outfielder J. D. Drew to a five-year contract worth $55 million, the Los Angeles news media roasted the club's general manager, Paul DePodesta, alongside his order of magic beans.

Krieger: From Monfort's perspective, it's time for Rockies to shine  —  Charlie Monfort has absorbed a few shots since taking over from Jerry McMorris as principal owner of the Rockies.  —  He mentions Duane Bobick.  I mention the late Jerry Quarry.  —  "Don't compare me to Quarry," he pleads.

Brewers continue to field questions about 2007 squad  —  As the Milwaukee Brewers slowly unveil their seemingly convoluted and somewhat risky plan to field a team for the 2007 season, two questions are asked most often by skeptical, anxious fans:  —  1. If you have a shortstop who hit 35 home runs …

Mets barring Jose from winter ball  —  STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS  —  The Mets shut the door on any chance of Jose Reyes playing winter ball yesterday when GM Omar Minaya told a Dominican TV station that the shortstop was too vital to the Mets to risk his health.

Hot Stove: Gonzalez cool through trade storm  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  It is easy to imagine how Mike Gonzalez might have taken it all quite personally.  —  The Pirates spent the better part of the week trying to trade him to Atlanta for slugger Adam LaRoche …

Even barrel bottom has Rays priced out … The biggest thing that came out of four days of marathon talks and minimal action at the winter meetings may have been this:  —  It's going to be hard for the Devil Rays to get better.  —  Signing any free agents, even lower-tier veterans, is going to be more difficult than they hoped.

View from Pluto  —  Data on Derek  —  TALKIN' DEREK ANDERSON  —  • I looked up some stuff on Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, who did a decent job in the 27-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He has been a major achiever in high school — first in the history Oregon 3A sports …

A vote for Mac, truth  —  Send him to Cooperstown, just don't forget juicy tidbits  —  The Hall of Fame ballot is in the mail, and I voted for Mark McGwire.  —  This was no easy decision, and I understand those who would leave him off.  There are many reasons to do so …