Kendall, Brewers agree in principle  —  One-year deal won't be official until veteran passes physical  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers wanted a deal with free-agent catcher Jason Kendall before the start of the long holiday weekend, and they got it.  —  A day after trading away incumbent Johnny Estrada …

Hooray! ...  The good old-fashioned trade is back … It's been a long, long time since we've had a baseball winter like this.  —  A winter dominated not by dollar signs, but by buzzing phone lines.  —  A winter in which a two-time Cy Young Award winner (Mr. Johan Santana, ladies and gentlemen) might get traded.

Hunter's list may start with Sox  —  At least five offers are there, but Twins' star CF calls GM Williams 'impressive'  —  A day after feasting on a steak dinner at the 30-acre estate of Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks and receiving a six-year offer, free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter …

MLB.com to hold postseason auction  —  Fans can bid on authentic items from memorable 2007 playoffs  —  Friday will mark the annual day on the calendar when holiday shopping truly begins in full force everywhere, and shoppers looking for the ideal gift for a baseball fan that day might want to consider the MLB.com Auction.

Hot Stove: Holiday cools market  —  Many baseball officials taking short break for Thanksgiving  —  Thanksgiving eve was a relatively quiet session on the Hot Stove front as most teams, free agents and their representatives took a break from business to get home for the holiday.

Cubs meet with Matsui  —  Hendry: McDonough departure won't affect offseason game plan  —  Wherever the Cubs' fortunes might go after the resignation Tuesday of president John McDonough, this much is clear:  —  General manager Jim Hendry has gone west — as in a trip to Los Angeles …

Youngman column: Judge Angels GM Reagins when he's done  —  Youngman column: Judge Angels GM Reagins when he's done … •  —  Sorry to disagree with you, Tony, but your first trade as Bill Stoneman's successor, judged by itself, did not make your team better.

Happy 87th to a genuine American hero  —  On this day in 1920, in the grainy borough of Donora, Pa., a smoggy 20 miles south of Pittsburgh, Stanislaw Franciszek Musial was born.  Precious few days in St. Louis history have been more significant.  —  Tom Brokaw wrote a best-selling book …

Notes: Vazquez signs one-year deal  —  Rangers avoid arbitration with utility infielder; three remain  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers have signed utility infielder Ramon Vazquez to a one-year contract and avoided a potential arbitration hearing, the club announced on Wednesday.

Holliday second to Rollins  —  Philadelphia's shortstop edges the Rockies' left fielder for MVP  —  Rockies Nation howled with indignation Tuesday when it was announced Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins beat out their man, Matt Holliday, for the National League MVP award.

Yankees' plans for 2008 may hinge on Andy Pettitte's answer  —  The return of Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera give Joe Girardi something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  Now, the Yankees are hoping that Andy Pettitte will give them a nice holiday gift next month.

Matsuzaka: 'Not up to my standards'  —  Red Sox righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka arrived at Tokyo's Narita airport earlier today and took some questions from a group of reporters at the scene.  —  The Globe's Daigo Fujiwara provides the following translation of the Q&A session:

A chip on his repaired shoulder  —  Chavez more motivated than ever after third surgery  —  (11-20) 19:47 PST OAKLAND — Last week, A's third baseman Eric Chavez had his third surgery of the fall, achieving a painful kind of symmetry by adding a left shoulder repair to earlier procedures on his lower back and right shoulder.

YANKS' DUNCAN LEAVES HOSPITAL  —  Shelley Duncan is out of an Arizona hospital, but the extent of a circulatory problem believed to be a blood clot in an arm isn't known because the Yankees aren't talking about it.  —  Duncan was admitted to the hospital last week, and according …

Maui Invitational: Day Two  —  An interesting day here in Maui.  The games weren't great but the performances by individual teams were.  In fact, the opening game was the only one that stayed competitive throughout.  —  Chaminade v. LSU  —  LSU continues to disappoint.

White Sox designate Scott Podsednik for assignment  —  Add four players to roster  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have designated outfielder Scott Podsednik for assignment and have purchased the contracts of catcher Cole Armstrong and right-handed pitchers Jack Egbert, Lucas Harrell and Adam Russell.