Veteran Klesko a Giant; now what about Bonds?  —  Ex-Padre gets one-year deal; club still working on language of Barry's contract  —  Ryan Klesko became the latest in a swell of former San Diego Padres to follow manager Bruce Bochy up the coast Tuesday, when the Giants signed the veteran …

Mets Step Up Zito Effort by Making a House Call  —  When it comes to pursuing an elite free agent, there is no setting too exotic or remote for Mets General Manager Omar Minaya.  He spent Thanksgiving 2004 wooing Pedro Martínez in the Dominican Republic, swung by Puerto Rico …

Twins, White agree to one-year, $2.75M deal  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins and outfielder Rondell White reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $2.75 million, one-year contract.  —  White must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, a person familiar with the negotiations said …

It's Official: Vidro Leaves Nats for Seattle  —  The Washington Nationals' offseason has been spent eliminating big, expensive, aging pieces and replacing them with smaller, cheaper, younger ones.  So it was that on a day made notable by the official elimination of the longest-tenured …

Agent says Pirates among top suitors for Suppan  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates' hot-and-cold pursuit of free-agent starter Jeff Suppan apparently is heating up again.  —  They are one of three teams making the most serious bid for his services …

Phillies close to deal with Barajas  —  Veteran will help tutor young, up-and-coming backstop Ruiz  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies appeared to have upgraded at catcher Tuesday by agreeing to a deal with Rod Barajas.  —  A baseball source said the team was close to signing the veteran backstop, though the terms were unknown.

think big!  —  By morning, I will happily off-grid for a week, back in action on 12/28 or so.  In the meantime...  Rescued from the cabinet of VHSs at my father's house on Long Island (and digitized by my buddy, LB), it's Think Big, the 1987 inspirational video starring the New York Mets' Gary Carter …

Hendry nears deal with Floyd  —  Cubs general manager Jim Hendry began recruiting Cliff Floyd as the baseball coach at Creighton nearly 16 years ago.  Now he's finally on the verge of reeling him in.  —  Sources said late Tuesday the Cubs were close to signing Floyd to an incentive-laden deal …

Rose backs McGwire, hopes exhibit helps with reinstatement  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Pete Rose thinks Mark McGwire should be in baseball's Hall of Fame, and hasn't given up hope that he'll get there someday, too.  —  Baseball's banished hits king said Tuesday that McGwire …

Radke retires after 12 seasons  —  Longtime Twins right-hander won 148 career games  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brad Radke could have made millions more as free agent in baseball's exploding market this winter.  —  His mind was made up, though, and the Minnesota Twins are losing one of the franchise's …

New manager Black pumped for 2007  —  Skipper fully expects team to contend with pitching, speed  —  SAN DIEGO — As most San Diego Padres fans know, the franchise has never had a pitcher throw a no-hitter, a batter hit for the cycle or a team win the World Series.