Pos-itive Royals thoughts  —  WARNING: The following column contains blatantly positive comments about the Kansas City Royals, including compliments of the Glass family, continuing belligerent optimism about the Gil Meche signing and a closer look at how general manager Dayton Moore intends …

Howard fires agent; new deal could come soon  —  In what could be a significant move in the pursuit of a big payday, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has dismissed agent Larry Reynolds.  —  According to the Phillies, Howard, who won the 2006 National League MVP in his first full season, is looking for new representation.

Dice-K is already pitching for Sox — in Japanese ads  —  Team hopes to exploit star's power to gain marketing clout over there  —  Newly minted Red Sox hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka donned a Red Sox uniform to make his latest pitch in Japan.  —  The Japanese baseball star, also known as …

In search of bat, O's make Huff an offer  —  Still looking to add an impact bat to the middle of their lineup, the Orioles made a contract offer yesterday to Aubrey Huff, one of the most accomplished players left on the free- agent market.  —  Exact details of the contract offer are unknown …

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Marlins' Ramirez strains left shoulder  —  NL Rookie of the Year should be ready for Spring Training  —  MIAMI — National League Rookie of the Year Hanley Ramirez experienced a shoulder injury while playing Winter League ball in the Dominican Republic.  —  After being examined on Friday …

Big wish: Yankees, D'backs near Johnson trade  —  Randy Johnson's brief stay in New York could end as soon as today.  —  A baseball official who spoke with one of the teams involved yesterday said a trade that would send Johnson from the Yankees back to the Arizona Diamondbacks was nearing its completion.

Suppan finalizes deal with Brewers  —  Veteran right-hander signs largest deal in club history  —  MILWAUKEE — Jeff Suppan passed a physical Friday morning, formally clearing his path into the Brewers' starting rotation.  —  Suppan and the team came to terms Christmas Eve on a free agent contract …

Marlins ink Boone to one-year contract  —  Infielder will back up at first and third and come off bench  —  MIAMI — Scratch the need for a veteran backup, right-handed hitting infielder off the Marlins' shopping list.  —  Quiet for much of the offseason, the Marlins on Friday filled …

Assessing baseball's offseason  —  Well, I hope that was fun for everybody.  —  Free agency isn't really over until the last owner overextends himself, and so the San Francisco Giants ponied up for Barry Zito, and for almost twice what it cost to build the Golden Gate Bridge.

Candidates using new means to gain votes … Tom Petty made his mark toting a Rickenbacker electric guitar rather than a Louisville Slugger, and he's immortalized in a Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland, not upstate New York.  But he might as well have been speaking for Cooperstown aspirants everywhere …

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Tribe among Mulder's three suitors  —  Agent Gregg Clifton said Thursday that the Indians, Texas and St. Louis are the three finalists in the bidding for injured left-hander Mark Mulder.  —  Mulder wants a two-year deal to keep his options open as he recovers from rotator cuff surgery on his left shoulder.

A 'no' for Big Mac  —  Tainted McGwire fails to make my Hall of Fame ballot  —  Also in this column:  —  Upon seeing my filled-out Hall of Fame ballot, some will call me lenient, say I'm a soft touch or maybe even claim I'm a little too giddy with spiked eggnog this Holiday season.