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.

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.

Holliday deal alters landscape  —  When considering what his roster would look like in the event Matt Holliday signed elsewhere, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said his preference would be to hoard pitching.  —  He said the goal would be a “robust rotation.”

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.

Coonelly discusses Bucs in monthly chat  —  Team president addresses expectations, additions … Coonelly: Hello everyone and welcome to today's chat.  I hope you all had a happy and healthy holiday season.  Let's get to the questions.  —  gobucsin10: Will you be at Somerset on Jan. 24 for the Winter Caravan?

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.

Astros decide to pass on Chapman  —  GM Wade would rather make investment in multiple players  —  HOUSTON — Astros general manager Ed Wade got an up-close look at Cuban phenom Aroldis Chapman during a private workout in Houston on Dec. 15 that was arranged by his agents and came away impressed …

Moving in fences is Wright move  —  After being introduced as the team's newest player, New York Mets' Jason Bay, center, puts on a team jersey as general manager Omar Minaya, left, and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon look on during a news conference Tuesday.

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.

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.

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.