Pirates manager: Russell the choice?  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates have settled on their next manager but aren't ready to say who it is.  —  There were strong indications Friday night that the choice was former Pirate third-base coach John Russell.  —  Russell, 46, who was on the Pirates staff in 2003-05 …

Marlins name Mark Wiley pitching coach  —  MIAMI — The Florida Marlins today named Mark Wiley their pitching coach, completing the coaching staff for the 2008 season.  The announcement was made by Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest.  —  "Mark [Wiley] is an accomplished …

Shamed doctor gets two years in steroid case  —  'Grandmotherly' Santi wrote thousands of prescriptions  —  PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Short and stout, with gray ringlets of hair framing a round, bespectacled face, Ana Maria Santi looks the part of a doting grandmother.

Mariners decline 2008 options on Guillen, Reitsma  —  SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners declined their contract options for 2008 on right fielder Jose Guillen and oft-injured reliever Chris Reitsma.  —  Guillen could still be back.  He wants a multiyear contract and not the one-year …

Baker sees rosy future for Reds  —  Dusty Baker is putting away the microphone and breaking out the sweatbands and fungo bat.  He has completed the transition from Cubs manager to broadcaster to Cincinnati Reds manager, and can't wait to start getting some dirt under his fingernails.

Blue Jays sign Canadian slugger Matt Stairs to a two-year deal  —  TORONTO - His first multi-year deal in nearly a decade, a prominent role with the 2008 Toronto Blue Jays and the chance to finish out his career in Canada was pretty much all Matt Stairs could have asked for in his latest contract.

Notes: Jenkins speaks on departure  —  Outfielder leaves door open for a return tour with Brewers  —  MILWAUKEE — Geoff Jenkins' career with the Brewers is over for now, but he does not believe it is over for good.  —  "I would love to come back there," Jenkins said this week, after the Brewers declined his 2008 option.

2003 Sox opening letter.  —  Here is the letter that arrived at our home a few hours prior to Theo, Jed and Larry opening up negotiations.  Theo said he didn't have a problem with it being published and I think it's a pretty significant look into how the ownership and baseball operations people here in Boston do business.

Team-by-Team Talent Rankings  —  Groundbreaking analyst Bill James, who is senior baseball operations advisor for the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, has published this provocative Young Talent Inventory in The Bill James Handbook 2008, available as of Nov. 1, 2007.

Griffey Jr. would answer Atlanta's center field questions  —  Atlanta Journal Constitution columnist Terence Moore said the Atlanta Braves can solve their center field dilemma with Ken Griffey Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds.  Griffey would be a solution until the future outfield prospects …

Wood might return to Cubs' pen in '08  —  Pitcher Kerry Wood could return to the Cubs' bullpen in 2008 — although it might take getting a deal done in the next nine days.  —  Cliff Floyd is resigned to the likelihood that his first season with his hometown team will be his last.

Yankees pick up Abreu's option  —  The Yankees have picked up the $16 million option for 2008 on right  —  fielder Bobby Abreu.  A person informed of the decision, who asked not to  —  be named since the Yankees had not yet made an announcement, confirmed  —  the move today.

They normally let their bats do the talking  —  For a guy who doesn't talk to the media, Manny Ramirez looked mighty comfortable sitting beside Jay Leno last night.  Appearing on "The Tonight Show," Ramirez called Boston "one of the best cities ever," and said he and his teammates …

BACK IN BLUE?  —  LO DUCA COULD RETURN TO METS  —  Paul Lo Duca's career with the Mets isn't necessarily finished yet.  —  The catcher's agent indicated yesterday discussions are ongoing that would put Lo Duca back behind the plate for the Mets next season.

Sosa wants to return to MLB, but seeks $7M deal  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Sammy Sosa wants to play in the majors next year, provided a team offers him a contract for at least $7 million.  —  Sosa hit 21 home runs with 92 RBIs this season with Texas.

Sources: A-Rod was seeking $350M from Yankees … Before Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract with the Yankees earlier this week, the team was told that it would not be able to meet with the third baseman unless it presented an offer of at least $350 million, sources say.

Kent's 2008 plans remain a mystery  —  Dodgers' most productive hitter shares an agent with Torre  —  LOS ANGELES — We know Joe Torre will be managing the Dodgers, we just don't know who those Dodgers will be.  —  And the unknowns aren't only the players the Dodgers could get, such as Alex Rodriguez.