Yankees Send Johnson Back to Arizona  —  With every move they make, the Yankees are looking back to go forward.  They traded Randy Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday, effectively returning the pitcher they could not live without just two years ago.

Alou returns to Giants as special assistant  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Felipe Alou has worn a baseball uniform for more than a half-century, and he might pull one on again this spring in a new role.  —  Alou formally rejoined the San Francisco Giants on Friday as a special assistant …

Mariners sign ex-Braves closer Reitsma for one year  —  SEATTLE — Former Atlanta Braves closer Chris Reitsma agreed Friday to a $2.05 million, one-year contract with Seattle to become the Mariners' setup reliever.  —  Reitsma gets $1.35 million this year and can earn additional bonuses based on appearances and games finished.

Sox take scout's word  —  Pineiro signing may help in end  —  This, ladies and gentlemen, is about pure scouting.  —  It's not about numbers or spreadsheets or anything you can download from a computer.  This is old-fashioned scouting.  The type that projects a player into a role he's not used to.

Uribe says he may sit out season  —  SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic — Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe may sit out the 2007 season after a judge ordered him to make twice-monthly court appearances in a Dominican Republic shooting case.  —  "I am going to decide if I am playing …

Notes: Indians planning extensions  —  Westbrook negotiations upcoming; Sabathia, Hafner on deck  —  CLEVELAND — Free agency never really stops.  If clubs aren't thinking about this year's Hot Stove action, they're looking ahead to next year or the year after that.

METS MAY MAKE PITCH FOR WEAVER  —  If Jeff Weaver wants to take a second chance at New York, it would have to be on a short-term deal.  And the Mets haven't even decided who they like best in a paltry free-agent market.  —  The Mets are still trying to fill out their starting rotation …

Jays replacing Mets in HOF Game  —  Will face Baltimore in rematch of 1998 Cooperstown contest  —  Due to a television scheduling conflict, Major League Baseball announced Friday that the Blue Jays will replace the Mets in the upcoming Hall of Fame Game, which is scheduled for May 21 at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, N.Y.

My Hall of Fame Ballot  —  Next Tuesday, the Hall of Fame will announce the results of the 2007 BBWAA balloting.  Unlike last year, when just one player earned induction and no newly-eligible players made a dent in the voting, this year's voting will certainly honor two first-time eligibles and could see at least one other elected.

Yanks envision a hoss in Ross  —  One scout at the Princeton-Old Dominion game clocked the ball that struck Ross Ohlendorf above the right elbow as traveling 106 mph coming off the bat.  Ohlendorf, pitching a few years ago in a marquee game against ODU star Justin Verlander that attracted …

Tickets On Sale Now  —  The Mariners 9th Annual FanFest will be held at Safeco Field Saturday, January 27th and Sunday, January 28th.  FanFest is your chance to meet some of your favorite players, get autographs and go behind the scenes at Safeco Field.  —  Sat., January 27 and Sunday, Jan. 28 - 10am - 4pm