Phils get ex-Astros closer Lidge in 5-player deal  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired reliever Brad Lidge from the Houston Astros in a five-player trade on Wednesday night.  —  The Phillies sent outfielder Michael Bourn, pitcher Geoff Geary and minor leaguer Mike Costanzo to Houston …

Red Sox sit down with Boras  —  Agent pitches Rodriguez to Epstein at meetings  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and his staff headed into a meeting with agent Scott Boras last night as good listeners.  —  There was no need to jump feetfirst into the Alex Rodriguez sweepstakes.

Trade talks focus on Cabrera, not Willis  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA - Multiple teams continued engaging the Marlins in trade discussions at the general managers' meetings Wednesday.  —  For now, those talks are centered on just one of the Marlins' two priciest commodities.

Shortstop crop is thinning out  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA - The Rays weren't looking to spend a great deal on a shortstop.  But with potentially attractive veterans Omar Vizquel and Juan Uribe coming off the already thin free-agent market Wednesday, it seems even more likely they'll have to make a deal …

Nats in market for outfield, pitching help  —  Hunter, Baldelli, Rowand, Andruw Jones all possibilities  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals made progress under manager Manny Acta in 2007.  They avoided a last-place finish for the first time since '03, when they were known as the Expos, and improved their defense and pitching.

Clemens to work for Astros, may be done playing  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — Roger Clemens is ready to join the Houston Astros — as a consultant.  —  In a sign that Clemens' pitching career could be over, his agent told the Astros on Wednesday that the seven-time Cy Young winner is set to start his personal-services contract with the team.

Texas Rangers need extra dollars to make sense  —  Whenever the Texas Lottery grows above $10 million, I pick up a few tickets.  (Who wants to waste their time with a piddling amount like $4 or $5 million?)  By the time I get home, I've got the annual payment figured out, the money divvied up and my new lifestyle already settled.

If Rodriguez Price Falls, Mets Might Be Interested  —  The Mets had a meeting Wednesday with Scott Boras, the agent for third baseman Alex Rodriguez, staying on the fringes of negotiations for the marquee free agent of the off-season.  —  There are no indications that the Mets …

Reliever Dotel joins free-agent field  —  Available players can start talking with other clubs Tuesday  —  ATLANTA — If Octavio Dotel returns to the Braves for the 2008 season, his salary will likely be less than he'd hoped.  —  As expected the Braves declined his $5.5 million option …

Manny's sweet ride to sell on eBay … Manny Ramirez [stats] took a lot of ribbing when he tried to sell a grill on eBay last spring.  But apparently that didn't turn off the Red Sox [team stats] spaceshot, because Manny's gonna sell his car on the auction site starting tonight.