Let's make a deal  —  Mets closing in on six-year contract with Santana  —  Johan Santana and the Mets continue to make progress on a record-setting contract that is expected to make the two-time Cy Young winner a $150-million man, SI.com has learned.  People with knowledge of the talks …

Casey joins Red Sox by signing one-year contract … BOSTON — First baseman Sean Casey has signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Boston Red Sox, according to ESPN's Peter Gammons.  —  Casey hit. 296 in 143 games last season with Detroit.  He is a career .301 hitter in 11 major league seasons.

Marlins-Mets P.R. series talks revived  —  Both clubs would play in San Juan in a three-game set in July  —  MIAMI — Discussed and dismissed before, talks have resumed about the Florida Marlins possibly calling San Juan, Puerto Rico, home for a three-game series.

Carrying a Weight, but Standing Firm  —  When Brian Cashman tells the story of how he became the Yankees' general manager, he makes his voice squeaky, like a teenager's, as he tries to sound confident before the principal owner George Steinbrenner.  —  That was Feb. 3, 1998, and a decade later …

Twins show interest in signing Fogg  —  The winter free-agent market is starting to thaw for Josh Fogg.  The Minnesota Twins contacted Fogg's agent Thursday, and appear serious about adding the veteran right-hander if the Johan Santana deal goes through with the New York Mets.

NL questions are plentiful  —  Adding Dan Haren to a pitching staff led by Brandon Webb gives Arizona as strong a 1-2 as any team in baseball.  —  What the Diamondbacks are waiting to find out is whether Randy Johnson, at age 44, can bounce back from his third back operation and fill the No. 3 slot.

Knoblauch Talks to House Panel  —  WASHINGTON — Chuck Knoblauch emerged from 90 minutes of closed-door testimony to congressional oversight staff on Friday smiling, carrying his 3-year-old son, and saying he wanted to do his part to clean up drugs in baseball.

Dodgers Top 11 Prospects  —  Four-Star Prospects  —  Three-Star Prospects  —  Just Missing: Pedro Baez, 3B; Bryan Morris, RHP; Michael Watt, LHP  —  1. Clayton Kershaw, LHP  —  Drafted: 1st round, 2006, Highland Park HS (TX)  —  2007 Stats: 2.77 ERA at Low-A (97.1-72-50-134); 3.65 ERA at Double-A (24.2-17-17-29)

Seattle Mariners  —  Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel.  All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.

Around the Horn: Rotation  —  The following is the fifth in a series of weekly stories on MLB.com examining each Major League club, position by position.  Each Wednesday until Spring Training camps open, we'll preview a different position.  Today: Starting pitchers.

PAT-ENTLY SMUG & SNOOTY  —  COCKY NEW ENGLAND TEMPTS FATE WITH ‘19-0’ TRADEMARK  —  The Patriots are suffering from premature exhilaration.  —  The arrogant New England team has already applied for trademarks on “19-0” and “19-0 The Perfect Season.”  Three days before they beat the San Diego Chargers …