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.

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.

Cubs promote Bush to assistant GM  —  Randy Bush was promoted to assistant general manager by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.  —  Bush, a member of two World Series winning teams with the Minnesota Twins, had joined the Cubs as a special assistant to general manager Jim Hendry on Jan. 26 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.