Mets have backup plan for Zito in Suppan  —  Left-hander Barry Zito wasn't the only free-agent pitcher that Mets' executives visited in southern California.  —  The Mets, perhaps lining up an alternative if Zito signs with another club, also met with free-agent right-hander Jeff Suppan, major-league sources tell FOXSports.com.

Alou, Thome information found in suspect's home  —  CHICAGO — Police have found personal information on White Sox slugger Jim Thome and Mets outfielder Moises Alou at the home of a man charged with identity theft.  —  David Dright, 38, faces 27 counts of identity theft involving …

Rangers gamble on Gagne  —  Good day, Akinori Otsuka.  —  You once saved the Texas Rangers from Francisco Cordero, who'd blown five save attempts before the 2006 season was four weeks old.  —  You then saved 32 games in 36 tries, driving a bullpen that logged 534 innings …

Barajas has deal with Phillies pending exam … Veteran catcher Rod Barajas has reached agreement on a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies pending a physical exam.  —  The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the contract is for one year with an option for a second year.  Terms of the deal weren't available.

Royals sign relief pitcher David Riske to one-year deal with '08 option  —  KANSAS CITY, MO. — The Kansas City Royals have signed right-handed reliever David Riske to one-year contract for the 2007 season with an option for 2008.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Average MLB salary up 9 percent to nearly $2.7 million … NEW YORK // Baseball salaries were booming even before the free-agent escalation that began more than a month ago.  —  The average salary shot up 9 percent this year to $2,699,292, according to final figures released Wednesday by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Gayo finding talent in fertile territory  —  Spearheads Pirates' scouting efforts in Latin America  —  Rene Gayo, the Pittsburgh Pirates' director of Latin American scouting, recently summed up what baseball means to people in that part of the world when he said: "In America …

Braves name new TV broadcast team  —  Sciambi to join Simpson for FSN, SportsSouth telecasts  —  ATLANTA — For more than a decade, fans could turn on a television broadcast of a Braves game and know there was a good chance that they'd see either Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton or Joe Simpson.

Klesko aboard, not Bonds  —  LF'S CONTRACT STILL NOT DONE  —  Ryan Klesko became the latest in a swell of former San Diego Padres to follow Manager Bruce Bochy up the coast when the Giants signed the first baseman/outfielder to a one-year, $1.75 million contract Tuesday.

Astros shifting from Generation Last  —  In the days since Andy Pettitte bid a painful farewell to his hometown and Jeff Bagwell a warm one, the Astros have been coming to grips with an exit strategy from Generation Last.  —  The Astros are of course willing to wait on Roger Clemens to decide whether to pitch again, and where.

The Mid-Rotation Starters of Your Dreams  —  It's no secret that any free agent capable of throwing 180 innings in the major leagues is going to have a lucrative offseason.  Most of them already have, making the remaining options even more desirable.  —  The two most notable pitchers still …

Nats sign Fick to Minor League pact  —  Versatile veteran hopes to get more playing time in 2007  —  WASHINGTON — Before the 2006 season ended, catcher Robert Fick said he wanted to return to the Nationals and play with Brian Schneider and Nick Johnson again.

Backman hired as manager for independent league team  —  ALBANY, Ga. (AP) — Wally Backman has another chance to manage.  —  Two years after he was fired by the Arizona Diamondbacks just four days following his hiring, Backman was announced Wednesday as manager of the South Georgia Peanuts in the independent South Coast League.

Phil Sheridan |  Another great athlete leaving too soon  —  Step up onto the float, Allen Iverson, and wave to the crowd as you go by.  —  The parade has a new grand marshal.  Unfortunately, it's not the parade Philadelphia has been waiting for since 1983.