Dawson earns long-awaited Hall call  —  Alomar, Larkin, Blyleven fall short in BBWAA voting  —  NEW YORK — Andre Dawson is this year's sole electee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it was announced on Wednesday.  —  Dawson, an outfielder, made it on his ninth try.

The Big Unit bids farewell  —  In the coming days, people throughout baseball will pay homage to Randy Johnson, who is announcing his retirement today.  They'll talk about his power, his ferocity, his toughness.  They'll recall his pitch to John Kruk in the All-Star Game, and how he helped put Seattle baseball on the map.

Holliday, Cards reach 7-year deal  —  The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a seven-year, $120 million deal with Matt Holliday, SI.com has learned.  Holliday will also get a full no-trade clause.  —  Holliday batted .353 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs in 63 games with the Cardinals …

Bill Hall to Red Sox in Kotchman Deal  —  A baseball source said that Bill Hall would be going from the Mariners to the Red Sox in the Casey Kotchman deal, describing his inclusion in the agreement between the clubs as “a done deal.”  Hall will be sent to the Sox along with a player to be named and cash for Kotchman.

Yankees' aim: bolster bench depth  —  Out in the Bronx, there is no cause to add a slugging left fielder to the Yankees' lineup.  —  “Our team is, for the most part, set,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday by phone from his office at Yankee Stadium.

Van Horne finalist for 2010 Frick Award  —  Marlins play-by-play announcer entering 43rd year in MLB  —  MIAMI — For more than four decades, Dave Van Horne has been a voice of authority, a voice of insight and voice of reason.  —  The Marlins' lead radio play-by-play announcer …

Capps, Nats finalize one-year deal  —  Right-hander collected 67 saves in five years with Pirates  —  WASHINGTON — After agreeing to terms on a one-year deal right before Christmas, right-hander Matt Capps signed a contract with the Nationals on Wednesday.

Florida Marlins: “Still in the game” for Chapman; Uggla to stay put?  —  The Marlins apparently are giving free agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman something to think about.  According to an American League source following the situation, the Marlins are “still in the game” …

San Diego counting on bargains  —  GM Hoyer anticipating price of free agents will fall  —  SAN DIEGO — It's beginning to look as though first-year Padres general manager Jed Hoyer has correctly gauged the free-agent market.  —  Now he's probably hoping everyone else hasn't.

Center Fielders On Royals' Radar  —  ESPN's Jerry Crasnick names three free agents on the Royals' radar for center field: Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik, and Randy Winn.  It should be noted that none of the three logged 500 innings in center in '09.  Crasnick's source doesn't see the Royals spending …

Yankees, Sergio Mitre Reach Agreement  —  The Yankees and pitcher Sergio Mitre avoided arbitration, reaching an agreement for $850K plus incentives tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Mitre had Tommy John surgery in July of '08, and was released by the Marlins in September of that year.

Vlad the Impaler...the search for a Rangers cleanup hitter  —  Vlad III was Prince of Wallachia.  He was a mean dude.  He would skin the feet of thieves, pour salt on the wounds and let goats lick away.  He nailed turbans to the heads of Ottoman envoys.  —  He was the inspiration for Count Dracula.