Report: Braves land closer Billy Wagner  —  The Braves didn't even bother waiting until they lost their free-agent closers before reportedly reeling in a highly accomplished replacement - veteran fireballer Billy Wagner.  —  Wagner, who ranks sixth in major league history with 385 saves …

Dodgers don't offer arbitration to any free agents  —  However, GM Ned Colletti says the team remains interested in re-signing Randy Wolf  —  The decision by the Dodgers not to offer arbitration to pitcher Randy Wolf or any of their other free agents Tuesday should not be viewed as a sign …

3UP: Burrell, Molina and Halladay  —  1. I hear that a trade of Tampa Bay's Pat Burrell for the Cubs' Milton Bradley is still a strong possibility.  Burrell is due $9 million next year while Bradley has two years at $21 million left.  Bradley also makes $9 million next year …

Tommy Henrich, Yankees Clutch Hitter, Dies at 96  —  Tommy Henrich, the right fielder known as Old Reliable who helped propel the Yankees to seven World Series championships, died on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.  He was 96.  —  His death was announced by the Yankees.

Derek Jeter gave Brian Cashman input on New York Yankees' player moves  —  Derek Jeter won't need to work when his playing days are over, but if he is interested in a future as a general manager, he's getting some good on-the-job training.  —  Jeter danced around questions …

Gilbert the frontrunner to buy Rangers … Former baseball superagent Dennis Gilbert and his ownership group have emerged in recent days as the surprise frontrunner to buy the Texas Rangers, SI has learned.  —  The deal is not believed finalized yet, but the winning bid is expected to be …

Roberto Alomar's brilliance still on display  —  You say you are young, and didn't see Roberto Alomar play?  —  No problem.  You get a chance to witness the brilliance of Roberto Alomar just about every night on a major league baseball field, when infielders make plays that Alomar all but invented and popularized.

Inside the Numbers: Average Salary for MLB in 2009  —  The average salary in Major League Baseball was just under $3 million for the 2009 season, based on an annual report released by the MLB Players Association.  The league average of $2,996,106 for 926 players was an increase of 1.37 percent …

Girardi teaches Jets QB how to slide  —  Yanks skipper happy to help Sanchez during practice  —  Yankees manager Joe Girardi lent a helping hand to the Jets on Tuesday, when he helped teach quarterback Mark Sanchez how to properly slide during a team meeting.

Fehr, now enjoying a slice of the retired life, discusses career  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Donald Fehr, executive director of the Major League players association the last 26 years, spent his first day of retirement Tuesday in the emergency room.  He sliced his left thumb cutting a grapefruit …

Friars seek righty OF at Winter Meetings  —  New GM Hoyer expecting to be busy in Indianapolis  —  SAN DIEGO — Like every general manager, new Padres GM Jed Hoyer will arrive in Indianapolis for the start of the Winter Meetings next week with a wish list of players, needs and areas of improvement he could like to address.

NFL says hit on Campbell was legal  —  Regarding Juqua Parker's late-game body slam of Jason Campbell, a play that drew no flag, I think Football Outsiders's Doug Farrar said it best:  —  Redskins offensive coordinator Sherman Smith agreed, during his weekly interview with Comcast SportsNet.

Shoppach, Rays close to deal  —  The Tampa Bay Rays are closing in on a deal for Kelly Shoppach of the Cleveland Indians, according to major league sources.  —  Shoppach, 29, hit .214 last season for the Indians, with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs.  He appeared in 89 games.