YANKS, DOUG REACH TENTATIVE DEAL  —  While no agreement was reached regarding Randy Johnson yesterday, the Yankees did make one move.  They reached a tentative deal with first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, and he will be undergoing a physical today.  —  Mientkiewicz, a former Met who recorded …

Agent says 2B Loretta will sign with Astros … Mark Loretta will sign with the Houston Astros on Thursday, his agent said.  —  The agreed-to deal is for one year at $2.5 million, but could be worth as much as $3.5 million with incentives, said Loretta's agent, Bob Garber.

Foulke and Indians finalize $5 million, 1-year deal; Mulder still in mix  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Keith Foulke wants to be a closer again.  The Cleveland Indians will give him the chance.  —  The free agent reliever finalized a $5 million, one-year contract with the club Thursday, a deal both sides hope turns into a longer partnership.

Mets target free-agent pitchers  —  The Mets are open to any and all ideas when it comes to improving their starting rotation.  But right now, the most likely path to an upgrade appears to be free agency.  —  While most of the big names have signed, the Mets have interest in Tony Armas Jr. …

One man's Hall-of-Fame ballot  —  Way back when I was a young baseball writer, I thought voting for the Hall of Fame would be easy.  —  Once I became a 10-year member of the Baseball Writers Association of America, I would vote only for the very best.  —  I would be a strict constructionalist …

Zito tries new colors  —  MEANWHILE, BONDS' CONTRACT APPEARS STUCK ON DETAILS  —  For $126 million, the Giants are getting more than a pitcher in Barry Zito.  They're getting a pitch man.  —  ``Oakland fans, if you guys are bored while the A's are out of town, come on over,'' Zito said Wednesday.

McCarthy refuses to get into war of words with Sox  —  Brandon McCarthy wasn't searching for any extra motivation heading into the 2007 season.  —  So he's calling the last few weeks a bonus.  —  Traded to the Texas Rangers less than two weeks ago, the former White Sox right-hander has tried …

Newest Oriole Huff happy to be here … When Aubrey Huff passed his physical yesterday, finalized a three-year, $20 million deal and was introduced as the newest Oriole, it likely represented the last major move for the club in a busy offseason.  —  The Orioles signed nine free agents, including two of their own, and made two trades.

Utility player gets $4 million, two-year deal  —  Told for years he was too small to play in the big leagues, Jamey Carroll is enjoying a week too good to be true.  The Rockies' utility player signed a two-year, $4 million contract with a club option for a third season Wednesday …

Veres to rejoin Rockies after hip surgery  —  Minor league deal gives pitcher shot at comeback  —  Dave Veres is hoping to restart his pitching career.  —  At age 40.  —  After having undergone hip-replacement surgery.  —  With the Rockies.  —  Veres has been out of baseball the past two seasons.

Getting defensive  —  Report: Yanks reach tentative deal with Mientkiewicz  —  NEW YORK (Ticker) — The New York Yankees apparently have found a defensive caddie for Jason Giambi.  —  The Yankees have reached a tentative deal with first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, the New York Post reported Thursday on its Web site.

But I Regress...  Do you know that thing that statisticians do called regression analysis?  It's when they look at two (or more) numbers to determine how closely correlated they are.  To use a couple of examples I've seen recently, education is correlated with health and the presence …