D-backs, Yanks still talking Unit trade  —  Teams have yet to agree on financial aspects, specific players  —  PHOENIX — The D-backs continue to talk with the Yankees about a deal involving Randy Johnson, but plenty of details remain to be worked out — both with the financial aspects …

Physical last step before Foulke joins Indians  —  CLEVELAND — Free agent reliever Keith Foulke arrived Tuesday to take his physical for the Cleveland Indians, the final step before the club can complete a one-year deal with the right-hander.  —  Foulke and his agent, Dan Horwits …

From A to Zito  —  Bonuses, perks of new Giants ace's contract revealed  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pitcher Barry Zito will make a base salary of $10 million from the San Francisco Giants in 2007, then receive raises of $4 million in each of the next two seasons.

Mets interested in Okha for rotation  —  Like many baseball general managers, Omar Minaya has a comfort level with players he has employed before.  Minaya knew Endy Chavez and Orlando Hernandez from his days with the Expos, and the outfielder and pitcher both played significant roles with the 2006 Mets.

Nats' Johnson May Miss First Month  —  Washington Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson is well enough to fly, well enough to walk without crutches, well enough to travel with his wife for a Las Vegas getaway, as he did this week.  But he still has a limp — favoring the right leg he broke …

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.

Brent Musburger Calls Out Blogs and USC Girls Go Commando  —  Mentioned this briefly yesterday, but with time winding down in Michigan's loss to USC Brent Musburger asked a question to bloggers....  (I'm paraphrasing here) … Bob Davies is the voice of reason?

Tribe tries to improve core in '07  —  Cleveland's full rotation and heart of lineup return this season  —  CLEVELAND — The calendar just officially turned to 2007, but for the Indians, that transition actually happened long ago.  —  It began in the middle of the '06 season …

Mariners rebuild for a better 2007  —  Seattle adds two arms and two bats to roster in busy offseason  —  SEATTLE — There's always a chance the Mariners will add a player or two before the start of Spring Training but, at this point, it appears the roster is all but set for 2007.

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 …

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.

Reds seek better results in 2007  —  Cincinnati prepares to compete in big-spending NL Central  —  CINCINNATI — The honeymoon period is over for the new Reds regime.  —  Led by chief executive officer Bob Castellini and his ownership group, the club spread plenty of goodwill through …

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.