Baseball holds its breath for The List to be released  —  The reactions will range from shock to anger, to threats and counter-threats.  Then again, maybe George Mitchell's 20-month steroids investigation will be stopped dead cold by a wall of cynicism.  Already there are enough detractors …

Search for Search Tips  —  Contact Us - Official Info - Advertising - Affiliates - Job Opportunities - MLB Tickets  —  The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties …

Mets sever ties with recently acquired Estrada  —  NEW YORK — Johnny Estrada never caught on with the New York Mets.  —  Acquired last month in a trade with Milwaukee, Estrada was let go Wednesday when the Mets declined to offer him a contract for next season.

Vizcaino close with Rockies, Pirates  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  Free-agent reliever Luis Vizcaino is close to signing with either the Pirates or Rockies, according to major-league sources.  —  Vizcaino, 33, is expected to receive a multi-year deal after rejecting a one-year contract through salary arbitration with the Yankees.

Texas Rangers acquire 1B Broussard from Mariners  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  The Rangers apparently solved their first base dilemma late Wednesday by acquiring the player they had coveted, Ben Broussard, from Seattle for minor league infielder Tug Hulett.

Jays close to deal with shortstop Eckstein  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Blue Jays have been mostly quiet this off-season, waiting for the right player to become available at a reasonable price.  —  That player finally has emerged — free-agent shortstop David Eckstein.

Astros part ways with Everett  —  Longtime Houston shortstop becomes free agent  —  HOUSTON — Adam Everett has been hearing Miguel Tejada's name floating around Houston for the better part of 18 months, and understandably, he was hoping the Astros' interest in the Orioles star would never blossom into a done deal.

Nats sign three, non-tender two  —  Cordero, Rauch and Redding among those arbitration eligible  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals agreed to terms on 2008 contracts with right-handers Luis Ayala, John Patterson and Ryan Wagner on Wednesday, thus avoiding salary arbitration …

Williams adapting to tough offseason  —  Sox GM three-quarters of the way to achieving club's aims  —  CHICAGO — White Sox fans look at the offseason moves put forth by their beloved organization, coming on the heels of last year's disappointing 72-90 season, and the word frustration occupies much of the analysis.

Marlins will look for new starting catcher  —  Olivo only Florida player to not be tendered a contract  —  MIAMI — As expected, the Marlins will be turning the page when it comes to finding their starting catcher.  —  On Wednesday night, the club bid farewell to Miguel Olivo …

Marlins' stadium plan gets new life  —  The Marlins and Miami political leaders have launched a pre-holiday scramble to firm up a $525 million plan to open a baseball stadium at the site of the Orange Bowl by 2011, but team officials stopped short of saying they have signed on to a deal.

Bruney stays; Beam, DeSalvo and Rasner go  —  Brian Bruney can afford another tattoo, the Yankees decided to keep him.  Bruney, Wilson Betemit, Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang were all offered arbitration tonight.  —  The Yankees did not offer deals to RHPs T.J. Beam, Matt DeSalvo and Darrell Rasner.