Kendall was best available option  —  Let me say this right off the bat: The catching market in baseball is bleak.  Very bleak.  —  Few teams have catchers who can both hit and catch.  If they have them, they have them locked up.  —  Anybody with a young catcher who might be expendable …

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.

Dukes on Nationals' radar  —  Talented Rays outfielder comes with plenty of baggage  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals have serious interest in Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes, according to a baseball official with knowledge of the situation.  Asked what the chances are of acquiring Dukes' services …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Ex-Mets attendant gets another sentencing delay  —  Sentencing has been delayed until early next year for Kirk Radomski, the ex-New York Mets' clubhouse attendant who looms as a key figure in the Major League Baseball steroids investigation headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell …

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 …

Yankees Should Avoid Linebrink  —  Numerous reports have the New York Yankees interested in right-handed reliever Scott Linebrink.  They should avoid him because:  —  1. Since his impressive 2004 and 2005, most of his stats indicate a structural decline:  — Stat: 2005/2006/2007

40-man Pirates roster gets shake-up  —  The Pirates last night finalized their 40-man winter roster by adding three players from within the organization and claiming right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier off waivers from the Houston Astros.  —  To make roster room for those four players …

Hendry hot on trail of Matsui  —  Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was on the road Tuesday, perhaps courting free-agent second baseman Kaz Matsui, who played for the National League champion Colorado Rockies.  —  Hendry wouldn't give his location, but the Cubs are hot after Matsui.

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.