Mauer faces Yanks challenge for AL MVP  —  Twins' Gold Glove catcher this year's favorite for honor  —  Power or presence?  Homers or heroics?  In the eyes of some, this season's American League Most Valuable Player Award debate will keep raging long after the Baseball Writers' Association …

Rockies kick tires on catcher Schneider; Contreras could head to Japan  —  Bracing for the potential loss of starter Yorvit Torrealba, the Rockies have expressed preliminary interest in free agent catcher Brian Schneider.  —  Schneider suffered through a disappointing 2009 with the Mets …

JD Drew explains his surgery  —  J.D. Drew's initial reaction when asked about having surgery on his left shoulder last Thursday?  —  “What surgery?”  —  But then, after a brief explanation that word had come out regarding the procedure, Drew relented.  The Red Sox' outfielder hadn't wanted …

New York Mets contemplating playing regular-season games in Puerto Rico during 2010 season  —  Major League Baseball is negotiating with a promoter about playing regular-season games in Puerto Rico for the 2010 season, likely involving the Mets as the visiting team, the Daily News has learned.

Ever-confident Sheffield game for a comeback  —  The old-guy market may not be so hot this offseason, so Gary Sheffield is making sure he's not one of the old guys shut out of the 2010 season.  —  Sheffield, 41, said he has dedicated himself to a grueling workout regimen featuring mixed martial arts and boxing exercises.

Mets eyeing Sheets  —  Ben Sheets hasn't pitched in the majors in more than a year, but that will not keep the Mets from keeping an eye on the former All-Star right-hander this winter.  —  The oft-injured Sheets, who last pitched with the Brewers in 2008, has been sidelined since February …

Cubs' next major hire: marketing guru  —  Media  —  Sports marketing and sponsorship guru Wally Hayward's schedule was more or less booked for the next 6 1/2 years until the International Olympic Committee decided Chicago wasn't its kind of town for the 2016 Games.

Book excerpt: Evaluating Baseball's Managers: Pat Moran  —  For the next few weeks, THT will publish excerpts from Evaluating Baseball's Managers, 1876-2008, which is scheduled for release in December, but can be ordered now.  (I should note I make considerably more money if you order directly …

Blue Jays bring in more scouts to help fill roster  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.  —  add this

Tampa Bay Rays plan to be aggressive in addressing bullpen, catcher  —  ST. PETERSBURG — With the free agency period starting last Friday, the Rays find themselves in a somewhat similar situation to last winter.  —  They like their nucleus, so they don't have many holes to fill …

A's invite McPherson to spring training  —  Free agent third baseman Dallas McPherson has agreed to terms with the Oakland A's on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training camp, his agent said.  —  McPherson  —  McPherson is expected to compete for a starting job …