Jose Canseco: Mark McGwire, Tony La Russa lying about PEDs  —  Mark McGwire admitted Monday to using steroids during his career, but Jose Canseco contends McGwire is not being entirely forthcoming about the matter.  —  Canseco, whose book “Juiced” fueled congressional hearings …

Yank Signings and Damon Update  —  The Yankees have signed lefty reliever Royce Ring, and outfielders Reid Gorecki and David Winfree to minor-league contracts, the Post has learned.  Meanwhile, their chances to re-sign Johnny Damon remained remote.  —  The Yankees are telling agents …

New York investment group leading effort to buy Astros  —  The out-of-town investment firm leading the effort to buy the Astros is Great Court Capital of New York, a person familiar with the negotiations confirmed today.  —  Astros owner Drayton McLane has granted exclusive negotiating rights …

Statement from MLBPA, Florida Marlins and MLB regarding Marlins' compliance with revenure sharing provisions of the Basic Agreement  —  The following joint statement was issued today by the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball and the Florida Marlins:

Sheets' cost tempers Cubs' interest  —  Club targeting right-handed relief at back of bullpen  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs will be among the teams watching Ben Sheets, but the right-hander's reported contract demands do not appear to fit into their budget.  —  Sheets, 31, who missed …

Maddon on what Rays need, have, see  —  Manager Joe Maddon was in town and at Tropicana Field on Tuesday to watch the group of 22 top prospects participating in the team's first winter development program, and shared a few thoughts on what he saw and what's going on with the big-league team.

Minor League Transactions  —  The transactions update you've been clamoring for is here . . . in part.  This installment takes us up through the end of 2009.  We'll get caught up next week.  —  Bear in mind that these transactions updates come directly from the horse's mouth.

Leading The Discussion  —  In the last day, BP has posted two articles — one a quick Unfiltered post about Mark McGwire and his steroid confessions, another a longer statistical look at aging curves by an outside writer — that have had long, involved discussion threads.

Baseball Research Journal  —  Many of you who are members of SABR already know this, having received your copy of the latest issue of the Baseball Research Journal, and Matt Swartz is too modest to mention it, but a version of his series on home-field advantage was included as one of the more sabermetric pieces.

Pirates Add Bass, Carlin, Myrow  —  The Pirates reached agreements with pitcher Brian Bass, catcher Luke Carlin, and outfielder Bryan Myrow on minor league deals, according to a team press release.  —  Bass, 28, posted a 4.90 ERA, 5.6 K/9, and 4.6 BB/9 in 86.3 relief innings last year.

Calculating Charlie Brown's Wins, Losses, & Other Stats: Introduction  —  There are a few certainties in life: death, taxes, writers making moronic decisions in the Hall of Fame vote, and Charlie Brown's baseball team getting trounced every summer.  —  For fifty years, Charlie Brown took …

Royals Considering Gomes, Thames  —  The Royals are looking to add a power hitter, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  The bat would slot into right field or the DH spot, depending on the health of Jose Guillen.  Morosi names Jonny Gomes and Marcus Thames as two players of interest who could fit into Dayton Moore's limited budget.

Blue Jays, Mets Interested In Delgado  —  AOL Fanhouse's Ed Price tweets, the Mets have seen Carlos Delgado in Puerto Rico twice, and plan to see him once more.  Price adds that Delgado “is not moving well”.  Price adds that the Blue Jays, Delgado's first team, might be a “more likely landing spot.”