MARK CUBAN IN MEGABUCKS BID FOR CUBS  —  Billionaire blogger Mark Cuban is more serious about buying a major league baseball team than he's been letting on.  The tech entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner is set to offer $625 million to buy the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co., according to a source familiar with the matter.

Ramirez 'at peace' here: Agent: Slugger wants to stick with Red Sox  —  FORT MYERS - Forget about whether or not Manny Ramirez [stats] arrived early or late for spring training.  —  Now, he never wants to leave.  —  Ramirez' agent yesterday said the slugger wants to stay with the Red Sox …

Wood ready to go after 27-pitch outing  —  MESA, Ariz. — Out of the hot tub, into the Cactus League.  That's the idea, anyway, for Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, who said he felt great during a 27-pitch session of throwing to hitters Tuesday and said he's fully recovered from the chest bruise …

Notes: Benson hoping to avoid surgery  —  Right-hander rehabbing in four-week program at spring camp  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It's only five days into a four-week rehabilitation program, but Kris Benson can already feel a difference in his pitching shoulder.

Are Cards in Rocket's orbit?  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Described more as fanciful thinking than a realistic hope, the Cardinals recently told agents representing seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens that they are interested should the 44-year-old expand his list of potential 2007 landing spots beyond Houston, New York and Boston.

Kielty to have knee scoped; Kotsay frustrated  —  PHOENIX — Oakland Athletics outfielder Bobby Kielty has a torn meniscus in his left knee that will require arthroscopic surgery in the coming days, sidelining him for three-to-six weeks.  —  Kielty, who came to camp in the best shape of his career …

Road trip halts Blake St. Bash  —  Tucson - The Blake Street Bash has been put on hold.  —  The Rockies had hoped to honor their famed sluggers with a Coors Field reunion in conjunction with Andres Galarraga's induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame on April 10.

Notes: Nats play first intrasquad game  —  Chico trying to fix mechanics; Hanrahan overcomes nerves  —  VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals held their first intrasquad game on Tuesday and it ended in a 4-4 tie in nine innings at Space Coast Stadium.  —  Left-hander Matt Chico …

Nats win!  Nats win!  [Mark Zuckerman]  —  Of course, they also lost.  Such is the Catch-22 of the intrasquad game.  But at least we had a winner today.  The home team beat the visitors, 6-2, in 10 innings.  Why 10 innings?  Because diminutive left-hander Arnie Munoz needed to get some work in …

Pirates rout Manatee College, 8-1, in exhibition opener  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — Cuban defector Yoslan Herrera pitched two perfect innings in the Pirates' 8-1 exhibition-opening rout of Manatee Community College today at McKechnie Field.

Santo: The bummer of 69 (percent)  —  Ex-Cub leads voting, but Hall veterans shut him out again  —  MESA, Ariz. — Ron Santo's heart was broken again Tuesday when he was denied entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame, leaving the former Cubs icon to wonder whether his day ever will come.

Quality of play now on par with majors … In 2003, after 12 years as a minor league manager in the Yankees organization, and a brief stint as director of player development for the Rangers, Texas native Trey Hillman packed his bags and went East, becoming the manager of Sapporo's Nippon Ham Fighters.

Assessing baseball's top position battles  —  With Cactus and Grapefruit League play just around the bend, it's time for your weekly look at the top 10 position battles in baseball right now.  —  1. Angels fourth/fifth starters  —  The contenders: Joe Saunders, Darren Oliver  —  The favorite: Depends ...

Notes: Relievers fighting for spots  —  Black suggests he may keep 12 pitchers after Spring Training  —  PEORIA, Ariz. — There's a month of exhibition games to be played, but manager Bud Black gave an indication on Tuesday as to how many pitchers he might be inclined to carry on the Opening Day roster.

Mickey Mantle novel to be published  —  NEW YORK (AP) — A racy novel about baseball great Mickey Mantle has found a new home after being canceled in the wake of publisher Judith Regan's firing.  —  Lyons Press, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press that publishes many sports books …

Solid first impression  —  Igawa shows promise in two shutout innings against minor-leaguers  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Several times during Randy Johnson's warm-up sessions over the past two years, a photographer or two made the mistake of kneeling several feet behind the plate.  —  Johnson hated it.

Shortstop could make $90M  —  Young, Rangers close to five- or six-year contract  —  Shortstop Michael Young and the Rangers are in serious negotiations that are expected to lead to him signing a $80 million or $90 million deal with Texas by the end of spring training.