MONEY DELAYS UNIT TRADE  —  Randy Johnson has returned home from his vacation, and now he must figure out if he is going to stay in Arizona for the rest of the year.  —  With New Year's Day now past, Johnson is expected to become more involved in the decision-making process that most likely will make him an ex-Yankee soon.

Rangers feel they can make their pitch  —  In a sense, signing Barry Zito would have been like winning the lottery for the Rangers, although in the player-friendly economics of baseball, winning the lottery is a costly experience for teams.  —  Adding Zito to the Rangers' rotation …

Pitch to acquire Lawrence could pay off soon  —  No one has seen free agent Brian Lawrence throw more this offseason than the Rockies.  This week, they could learn whether their pitch to land the veteran right-hander is successful.  —  Page Odle, Lawrence's agent, expects to speak with the Rockies today or Wednesday.

Searching for truth  —  Seven months before he broke Roger Maris' home run record and seven years before Congress would pursue a similar line of questioning with him, I asked Mark McGwire if he used steroids.  We sat in the living room of his well-appointed Orange County, Calif., home.

Pirates bringing back utilityman Hernandez  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates will bring back utilityman Jose Hernandez for a third tour of duty.  —  Hernandez, 36, and the team have agreed to terms on a one-year, minor-league contract for which he would receive $900,000 at the major-league level.

Bucs' rotation will be key in '07  —  Pirates place hopes in Duke, Snell, Maholm and Gorzelanny  —  PITTSBURGH — Which Pittsburgh Pirates team will show up in 2007?  —  Will it be the underachieving club that limped into the All-Star break in 2006 as the worst team in baseball?

In the Long Run, Great Arms Come With Big Risks  —  Pete Seeger wrote it and Peter, Paul and Mary sang it and made it hugely popular during the Vietnam War.  It could apply to the war in Iraq, but the refrain in "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" applies to baseball as well:  —  "When will they ever learn?

Expect more in 2007 from Red Sox  —  Boston will try to erase from memory last year's bitter ending  —  An active winter by Boston has left a most rabid Red Sox fan base eager for spring and summer.  That's a nice change of pace after the bitter way that last season — bogged down by injuries and disappointing performances — ended.

Good Morning: Put the Lotion in the Baskett  —  Hello again.  So, sorry for the depressing update yesterday.  New Year's Day is an official "holiday" for Deadspin, but I felt like the Darrent Williams thing shoud've been something that was posted about to facilitate discussion …

Sox become Beane counters  —  Deals for cheap, young pitchers reminiscent of small-market A's  —  I've come to expect surprises from Ken Williams, who seems to get a kick out of making unexpected deals.  But Williams has outdone himself this offseason.  When did the White Sox general manager turn into Billy Beane?

Young D-backs try to step up in '07  —  Arizona's youthful core got its feet wet last season  —  PHOENIX — The future is here.  —  As 2006 turns to 2007, the D-backs look to their core of young players to return the franchise to its former glory.  —  After integrating shortstop Stephen Drew …

The Virtual 1946-1949 St. Louis Cardinals (Part 1)  —  The St. Louis Cardinals of the 1930s are among the most colorful and well-remembered ball clubs in history.  With a lineup chock-full of lively, high-spirited stars, a high proportion of them country boys recruited from the rural hinterlands …

Howard still looking for new agent  —  The Phillies' MVP slugger may hire Leon Rose, who represents Allen Iverson and other NBA stars.  —  Ryan Howard recently fired agent Larry Reynolds, but it remains unclear who his next agent will be.  —  The buzz in baseball Saturday …