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 …

Marlins may play in Puerto Rico in '08  —  Negotiations are under way for at least one series in Caribbean  —  MIAMI — Major League Baseball approached the Marlins a few weeks ago about playing a few home games in Puerto Rico, and if the offer is right, the team said it would be receptive.

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 …

Notes: Sox aiming to extend Francona  —  GM Epstein says manager's contract is one offseason goal  —  BOSTON — Following the signings of Mike Lowell and Curt Schilling, the defending World Series champion Red Sox have the luxury of knowing that both the starting nine and pitching rotation is virtually set for 2008.

Bucs follow Clemente's legacy of giving  —  Pirates players remain active in charitable endeavors  —  PITTSBURGH — When it comes to baseball players and giving, athletes and humanitarian work, the name Roberto Clemente likely comes to mind.  The legendary Pirates outfielder dedicated his time …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.