Sox to sign Penny  —  Bard also in sights as backup catcher  —  Although it might not compete with the big-money, big-name signings by the Yankees in recent weeks - and certainly not with the more than $400 million the Bombers have spent in the offseason - the Sox are set to fill one of their open spots with a more modest acquisition.

So long Manny?  Dodgers call Dunn, source says … Apparently, the Dodgers aren't going to sit around all winter, waiting for Manny Ramirez to beg to come back.  They now have Adam Dunn on their shopping list.  —  The Dodgers contacted Dunn's agent, Greg Genske, over the holidays …

Mets keeping starting options open  —  NEW YORK — The Mets ought to have a better read about their projected starting pitcher rotation by the end of the week.  —  They intend to make offers early this week to at least two and probably three free-agent pitchers — Derek Lowe …

Verducci joins MLB Network studio team  —  Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Joins as “Baseball Insider”  —  SECAUCUS, N.J. — MLB Network today announced that Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Tom Verducci, one of the most respected journalists covering baseball, will join the studio team as a “Baseball Insider.”

O's, Hendrickson agree on contract terms  —  Looking to increase their pitching depth, the Orioles have agreed to terms with free-agent left-hander Mark Hendrickson, who will take a physical this week to finalize the deal, according to team sources.  Terms of the deal aren't known.

Petitti shapes vision for MLB Network  —  President/CEO, a true baseball fan, plays big role in channel's birth  —  SECAUCUS, N.J. — Friday lunches are free at the MLB Network's second-floor cafeteria — have been for all of December, ever since this final push to launch the cable channel began.

Save Your Yankees Disgust  —  The Yank's owners are rude, flamboyant and obnoxious, but don't blame them for spending money to improve their team.  —  This man is worth $180 million.  —  Friends, Americans and baseball fans around the globe, lend me your eyes: I'm writing to praise the New York Yankees, not to bury them.

Catching up with Cubs announcer Len Kasper  —  When we profiled Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper right before spring training, expectations for the team were sky-high.  —  Well, you know what happened.  The wounds of the faithful are still healing.  Still, Kasper remembers 2008 as his favorite year in baseball.

In tough offseason, McLane favors salary cap  —  Astros struggling with sales of corporate sponsorships  —  Astros owner Drayton McLane is one of the wealthiest men in the country and is accustomed to hearing about multi-million dollar deals being made in any of his numerous business ventures.

Dodger Thoughts: Sit Wit' DeWitt  —  Dodger Thoughts reader Terry Austin passes along this four-part interview by Richard McGill with Dodger second baseman Blake DeWitt.  —  Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4  —  Don Newcombe, Tommy Lasorda, Mike Scioscia and Sparky Anderson are among …

The drama index  —  The other day, I wrote about something I called the Season Leverage Index.  The idea is simple: I want to quantify how much more important victories in September are compared to victories in April.  —  After the fact, of course, they're not more important at all.

Money won't buy the Yankees a championship  —  First there was CC Sabathia.  No one thought too much about that signing.  The Yankees usually act like the spoiled only child who threatens to hold his breath until he gets what he wants.  They wanted pitching, so they signed him.