Penny may bolster Boston's rotation  —  Right-hander made 17 starts in injury-plagued '08 with Dodgers  —  BOSTON — When it comes to free-agent starting pitchers, it almost always has been Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein's choice to pass up lucrative, long-term deals in favor of low-risk, high-reward solutions.

Olney's Latest: No Big Money For Manny?  —  By Nat Boyle [December 28 at 12:53pm CST]  —  Buster Olney's latest discusses the bleak outlook for Manny Ramirez in landing the long-term, big money contract he's seeking. … Olney provides a brief rundown on all teams considered potential players …

Brady behind schedule in recovery from surgery  —  Pats must consider keeping Cassel because star QB's knee won't be whole  —  Tom Brady's slow march toward recovery puts the Patriots in a dilemma as they try to decide whether to put the franchise tag on Matt Cassel.  —  Matty's musical tribute to Brady

Los Angeles Dodgers Top 20 Prospects for 2009  —  One in a long line of Mr. Albuquerques.  —  Los Angeles Dodgers Top 20 Prospects for 2009  —  All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.  Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get out of the top 10.

Rickey Definitely Yes, McGwire Unfortunately No  —  The Hall of Fame voting deadline is fast approaching, as ten-year members of the Baseball Writers Association of America must submit their ballots by midnight on Wednesday.  Candidates must be named on 75 percent of the ballots cast …

Not catching many offers  —  Varitek, Rodriguez deal with age issue  —  There was a time not long ago when if Pudge Rodriguez and Jason Varitek were both available in the free agent market, there would be a stampede for their services.  Now, there's barely a whisper.

Hospital to shed Clemens' name  —  Roger Clemens can't get to 2009 soon enough.  —  Five days before the new year, Clemens received another professional setback and blow to his ego.  —  Houston's Memorial Hermann Medical Center announced Saturday that it is removing Clemens' name …

From Walt Jocketty 12.27  —  Just got off the phone with Walt Jocketty about Taveras and some other things.  —  On whether this signifies a change in the Reds' philosophy, going with a speed guy and not really replacing some of the big bats that left: “It's more of what was available for us and what we had to do to improve the club.

Teixeira and a stand-up guy  —  New Yankee Mark Teixeira should slip comfortably into pinstripes - he's a big-city guy who idolized Don Mattingly and once harbored contempt for the hated Red Sox.  —  The 28-year-old first baseman is known as a humble, hardworking ballplayer …

YANKEES: Resolution: No standing pat here  —  Three big-dollar signings put Yankees in very good shape to enter the new year  —  The Yankees know as well as anyone that World Series are not won on paper.  If winning a title were as simple as that, the Yankees would have a couple …