Cubs mean bid-ness with Japanese star  —  Fukudome also coveted by White Sox, Padres; Prior could be on way out  —  NASHVILLE - Now that the winter meetings have ended, the Cubs can start taking care of their offseason business.  —  Four days in Nashville yielded the Cubs a couple …

Yankees talking to LaTroy Hawkins  —  NASHVILLE - Brian Cashman left the Opryland Hotel without Johan Santana, but he did head back to New York with his three prized young pitchers still in pinstripes.  —  The Yankees made just one official move during the winter meetings …

Marlins seeking new face at third base  —  Cantu on radar; offer rumored for Phillies' Helms  —  MIAMI — The Marlins are aggressively searching the market for a third baseman.  In fact, they may end up acquiring several choices for the job.  —  One of the more likely options is Jorge Cantu, who was put on waivers by the Reds.

Guillen & Gibbons Suspensions Prelude to Mitchell Report  —  When the news first hit that deliberations were involved in a possible suspension of Jose Guillen, no one saw what was about to happen.  Not only was Guillen suspended, but so was Jay Gibbons of the Orioles, while Scott Schoeneweis …

Nationals make a splash at Meetings  —  GM Bowden adds both youth and talent to the equation  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nationals made two things clear at the 2007 Winter Meetings: They want to get younger and better.  As the Meetings came to a close on Thursday, they felt they accomplished both.

A-Rod's Properties and Charity Suggest Some Stinginess  —  The veneer of Alex Rodriguez's real estate empire of working-class housing is staged to disguise his inner Mr. Potter.  —  Past a psychic's storefront and coin laundry on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Tampa, Fla., a sign reading …

Carroll likely headed to Indians  —  The Rockies are set to trade infielder Jamey Carroll to the Cleveland Indians for a minor league player.  They just have to decide which player.  —  While the Rockies were finalizing the details for the departure of Carroll, they also were emerging …

Catching up with Mackey Sasser  —  Like every head coach on every level of baseball, one of Mackey Sasser's responsibilities at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala., is to throw daily batting practice.  —  Except for Sasser, the routine act of throwing stopped coming natural to him many years ago.

Youth May Be Served Up  —  After being frisked by pistol-toting security guards, fans passing through the turnstiles at Estadio Quisqueya are greeted by vendors selling the essentials of any authentic baseball experience: empanadas, cold Presidente and breath mints.

NESN wraps up Sox' hit season  —  Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season for the baseball fan in your life?  Look no further than NESN's DVD that chronicles the championship journey of the Red Sox.  The DVD is entitled, "Champions Again: The Story of the 2007 Boston Red Sox."

BBWAA Opens Up Its Membership to Web-Based Writers  —  "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."  — Chinese Philosopher  —  The Baseball Writers Association of America voted yesterday to open up its membership for the first time to web-based baseball writers.

Mets move on, but still eye an ace  —  NASHVILLE - Omar Minaya departed the winter meetings sounding like a man prepared to head to spring training needing only minor tinkering to his roster from this point forward.  That said, the Mets GM wouldn't resign himself to losing out on Johan Santana, Dan Haren or Erik Bedard just yet.

Meetings over, Wade's work unfinished  —  Astros don't deal, but groundwork in place for future moves  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Astros have many offers on the table and are waiting to hear if they have a deal, and while it appears the Miguel Tejada talks are back on …