Sox decline option on Gonzalez  —  The Red Sox have declined a $6 million option on shortstop Alex Gonzalez, according to a source, but the club still may have interest in bringing the player back in 2010 on a lesser salary.  —  News of the Sox' decision to forgo the option on Gonzalez comes …

Jays may consider trading Halladay  —  Dealing ace could fit in with GM Anthopoulos' vision  —  TORONTO — Alex Anthopoulos finally did away with the suspense and agreed on Saturday afternoon to discuss the immediate and long-term direction of the Blue Jays.

Yanks need to clear glut of DH candidates  —  You are Brian Cashman, sitting atop a baseball empire as vast as Microsoft's — limitless wealth and talent, loved and hated by millions.  Are there any remaining challenges for this reborn dynasty?  Probably not, as Cashman heads …

It looks as if Joe Torre wants more  —  Manager is talking about staying with the Dodgers beyond next season.  —  Two days at Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup, and of all places providing a sports memory of a lifetime in addition to a hot tip that finally pays off.

Padres only open to dealing stars for right price  —  There're probably 28 teams who'd like to have Adrian Gonzalez.  But Ken Rosenthal says the Padres should hold out for the right deal.  Don't get too comfy.  Teams may be willing to deal some big-time talents, including Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres, Ken Rosenthal says.

Cubs seem ready to let Rich Harden and Reed Johnson go  —  Free agents' contract situations a difficult fit for Cubs' plans  —  Reed Johnson slides into the vines after catching Andy LaRoche's fly ball in the 8th inning.  (Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune / May 27, 2009)

Rising Stars Game Turns Into Futures Sequel  —  The Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game didn't have Stephen Strasburg in it, as the 2009 No. 1 draft pick and Nationals phenom was scratched from his appearance by a stiff neck.  —  Mike Minor, the lefthander out of Vanderbilt whom …

Get a whiff of this: Lincecum a social pioneer?  —  Sports figures have a way of pulling the rest of us forward, into that great, gray future some care not to see.  Though these advances tend to come with discomfort, they come nonetheless.  —  Tim Lincecum may become one such figure.

Texas Rangers' Young still hungry for a title  —  Even if he had been so inclined, Michael Young simply couldn't make himself watch the New York Yankees celebrate world championship No. 27 on Wednesday.  —  As much as he wants to taste the postseason, wants to know what it looks and feels like, there are still higher priorities.

Kurkjian's Latest: Yankees, Dodgers, Chapman  —  Tim Kurkjian runs through some of the top storylines to watch this offseason for his latest article on ESPN.com.  Here's a breakdown of some of the topics discussed...  - Kurkjian believes the Yankees will let Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui walk …