Mets Set to Make Torrealba an Offer He Can't Refuse  —  The last time the Mets needed a starting catcher, after the 2005 season, they went hard after the top two free agents, Ramón Hernández and Bengie Molina.  General Manager Omar Minaya visited both players …

Texas Rangers talk with Hunter, interested in Rogers  —  Team may also be interested in bringing Rogers back to the table  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  The Rangers are taking a proactive approach to their pursuit of free agent center fielder Torii Hunter.  —  And they wouldn't mind reconciling with Kenny Rogers, either.

A-Rod might have staying power with Yankees  —  If Alex Rodriguez wants to come back to the Yankees, and there are people close to him in Miami who think he does, here is how it happens, and maybe happens soon:  —  He starts by going to Tampa and meeting with George Steinbrenner …

ESPN's Keith Law Interview  —  Sabernomics readers ought to be familiar with Keith Law, a former member of the Toronto Blue Jays front office who is now the lead baseball analyst for ESPN's Scouts Inc. Last year, I had the good fortune to meet Keith while scouting Josh Smoker in my neck of the woods.

Youkilis shaves his beard for charity  —  Gillette company donates $5,000 for slugger's being shorn  —  BOSTON — As routes to stardom go, Kevin Youkilis took a different tack.  His hirsute forebear, Johnny Damon, was as much defined by his carefree streak as by his long locks.

Score one for the voters  —  Sabathia was the right choice for AL Cy Young  —  Is 20 wins no longer a magic number?  It's about time.  —  This is not the first time that the Cy Young voters have bypassed a 20-game winner like Josh Beckett for a pitcher who didn't win 20, like the 19-7 C.C. Sabathia.

Nationals exhibit stadium's progress  —  Team president Kasten takes mayor Fenty on tour of new park  —  WASHINGTON — Twelve months ago, Nationals Park existed as blueprints, computer models and a lot of dirt and concrete.  —  Today, it is a baseball stadium.

Roger Dean Stadium gets new GM  —  The Florida Marlins have chosen Joe Pinto to be Roger Dean Stadium's new general manager.  —  Pinto will oversee operations for the Jupiter ballpark which serves as the spring training home of the Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, as well as the Florida State League's Jupiter and Palm Beach clubs.

Probabilistic Model of Range, Third Basemen, 2007  —  The Washington Nationals and Ryan Zimmerman lead the way at third base.  —  Team Third Basemen PMR, 2007, Visit Smooth Distance Model, 2007 data only  —  Team In Play Actual Outs Predicted Outs DER Predicted DER Ratio  —  Nationals  —  4591

Nothing new on Lowell … If they have not already, a handful of teams that include the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, most prominently, are expected to make free agent Mike Lowell an offer he can't refuse in the coming days.  —  The Red Sox [team stats] are still in Lowell's sights …

Arizona looking to woo Reds  —  Voters in Sarasota, Fla., recently rejected paying for renovations to the Cincinnati Reds' training stadium, which leaves the team looking for a new spring home - and Arizona wondering if it could snare another Florida team.  —  Eyes are on Tucson …

Reds COO Allen steps down  —  Long-time Cincinnati executive will stay on as consultant  —  CINCINNATI — John Allen is credited for moving the operation of the Reds franchise into modern times while also rekindling attention to its storied tradition.  —  Allen announced Tuesday …