Gambling probe reveals Charlie Samuels' relationship to Francisco Rodriguez, Jeff Francoeur, others  —  Charlie Samuels, the Mets clubhouse manager ensnared in an investigation into mobbed-up gambling, has been a trusted confidant and friend to scores of Mets players over the years …

Odds and ends from today's Sabean/Bochy news conference, plus a not-so-crazy, crazy idea for shortstop  —  My story from today's annual postmortem news conference is on the Gate and linked here.  Actually, I don't know if you can call it a postmortem if the Giants won the World Series.

Yankees will be ‘in early’ on Cliff Lee, source says, will face competition from Angels and Rangers  —  Two years ago, the Yankees started the free agency period with a blockbuster offer to CC Sabathia that helped pave the way to signing the big lefty.  After the clock strikes midnight Saturday night …

Astros Tell Berkman's Agent They Will Not Pursue Lance  —  HOUSTON - Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade told FOX 26 Sports Friday he informed the agent for free agent first baseman Lance Berkman that the Astros will not pursue their former star.  —  Berkman's agent, Mike Moye …

Source: Collins top Amazin' candidate  —  Mets on Twitter  —  Tweet  —  When Mets general manager Sandy Alderson explained last week that “I think that a fiery manager is actually quite desirable,” the sense was he was sending out a message at his introductory press conference that the door was open to Wally Backman.

‘Out.  The Glenn Burke Story’ aims to strike out intolerance  —  Comcast SportsNet Bay AreaGlenn Burke, mid-1980s, openly gay and out of baseball.  —  If the celebration of Fernando Valenzuela was a highpoint in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers and baseball, an exhilarating transcendence …

Gregg could return to Blue Jays  —  Toronto Blue Jays closer Kevin Gregg may be gone for now but still could be brought back into the fold, general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on Friday.  —  The American League club declined the two options it held on Gregg's contract late Thursday night …

Harvin returns to practice, squabbles with Childress over effort  —  Percy Harvin got into a heated argument with Brad Childress.  —  Percy Harvin returned to Vikings practice Friday, but things did not go smoothly.  —  The wide receiver, who sat out Wednesday and Thursday …

Bidding For Iwakuma Closes, Mariners The Favorite?  —  NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman passes along a report saying that the bidding has closed for Japanese righty Hisashi Iwakuma (via Twitter), and a report from Sports Hochi (article in Japanese) indicates that the Mariners appear to be the favorite to land him.