Mark DeRosa signs with San Francisco Giants, spurns New York Yankees  —  The Yankees viewed free agent Mark DeRosa as potential help in left field and an unbeatable super-utility option.  But DeRosa, a Bergen Catholic product, agreed to a preliminary two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants Monday night …

Blue Jays hire ex-Cubs GM as a scout  —  Ed Lynch, former Chicago Cubs general manager, is the latest hire in the Blue Jays scouting bonanza.  —  Lynch stepped down as Cubs GM after 51/2 years at the helm in July 2000.  Lynch's Cubs reached post-season in 1998, but they were swept …

Bruney eager for ‘challenge’ with Nats  —  Former Yankees reliever to compete for club's closer role … MLB.com: What was your reaction when you found out that you were traded to the Nationals?  —  Brian Bruney: I feel good being a National.  I think there is a better opportunity for me there.

Talk of a third baseball team in New York rises again  —  I've always been intrigued by the thought of making New York a three-team town again and I love talking about the possibility whenever anyone brings it up.  —  Really, can you think of anything in baseball with more storylines?

Note: Major Mets Update from Francesa Tomorrow  —  Today on WFAN, Mike Francesa said he will give a ‘major, major update on the Mets,’ during tomorrow's show. … Updated at 7:56 pm: … Updated at 9:52 pm:  —  ...i listened to it again, and mike's statement can also be interpreted …

How do baseball players age?  (Part 2)  —  In my last article, I used the “delta method” to analyze the relative performance of ballplayers as they age.  Let's address a major issue in this approach and attempt to correct for it.  The major issue in question is known as...  Survivor bias

Barry Larkin had a dominant career, and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame  —  Longtime Reds shortstop had career that should easily earn him a place in Cooperstown  —  If you're hanging out in a Skyline Chili or in the Montgomery Inn right now, you already know all about Barry Larkin.

For the Long-Term Investors  —  Last week, we discussed when bad teams should attempt to sign free agents.  The primary scenarios in which this makes sense are when the team stands an outside chance of competing, and when there also will be a valuable market for that player at the trade deadline …

The best of the decade: MLB … Judging by headlines alone, it was one of baseball's darkest decades.  But in almost every other sense, it was one of the sport's best.  —  The 2000s were dominated by steroids and everything we learned about them: how widespread they were, who juiced, who was responsible and how it impacted the game.

Mariners Sign Catcher Josh Bard and Right-Handed Pitcher Chad Cordero to Minor League Contracts  —  Bard and Cordero will be invited to Major League spring training.  —  SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today …