Giants sign Klesko to one-year deal  —  Veteran lefty slugger played seven years under Bochy  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants added another vital part to their interchangeable-player whole Tuesday by signing free agent infielder/outfielder Ryan Klesko to a one-year contract.

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 …

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 …

Mets sign five Minor League free agents and extend them Spring Training invitations  —  The New York Mets today signed five minor league free agents, righthanded pitchers, Clint Nageotte, Jorge Vasquez and Lino Urdaneta, lefthanded pitcher William Collazo and outfielder Raymond 'Chip' Ambres …

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 …

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.

Sixers, Nuggets reach agreement for Iverson … The Denver Nuggets have reached an agreement in principle with the Philadelphia 76ers to acquire Allen Iverson, according to NBA front-office sources.  —  The trade, pending league approval, some two weeks after Iverson demanded a trade in Philly …

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 …

Rangers add Gagne to bullpen mix as new closer  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Eric Gagne passed an extensive physical and is now the closer of the Texas Rangers.  —  The Rangers on Tuesday completed a one-year deal with Gagne, the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner and one of the most dominant closers …

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 …

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 …

Phillies and outfielder Werth reach agreement, source says  —  The Phillies continue to look for bullpen help, but in the meantime they have found some outfield depth.  —  A baseball source said yesterday that the Phillies have come to an agreement with outfielder Jayson Werth, who was cut free by the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.

Strawberry: Jeter must embrace A-Rod  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Darryl Strawberry thinks the Yankees' clubhouse is beset by bad chemistry that can be cured only one way: Derek Jeter needs to "embrace" Alex Rodriguez.  —  "They've got to come together," Strawberry said Tuesday.

Braves' minor leaguer arrested  —  Teen pitcher charged with hitting vehicle with bat  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A Tampa teenager drafted by the Atlanta Braves has been charged with using a baseball bat to damage a vehicle, police said.  —  Steven Michael Evarts, 19, a standout pitcher …