Mets managerial search continues  —  Terry Collins, Clint Hurdle and Bob Melvin have emerged as leading candidates in the New York Mets' search for a manager, according to sources familiar with the process.  —  Each has previous major league managerial experience and is expected to be invited back for a second-round interview.

Experts split on Carl Crawford vs. Jayson Werth  —  Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth?  —  It's a question several general managers, including perhaps the Red Sox [team stats]' Theo Epstein, will ask this winter.  Crawford and Werth are at the top of the free agent pecking order …

Yankees show interest in lefthanded pitcher Jorge de la Rosa, who played with Rockies last season  —  The Yankees have targeted Cliff Lee as their top pitching priority on this winter's free-agent market, but that doesn't mean they're not looking at backup plans.

Silver Slugger winners not your usual suspects  —  CarGo, Bautista, Uggla, Tulo among first-timers to earn award  —  There was a changing of the guard among the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winners.  —  While some of the usual names appeared among the victors when the results …

Rangers could make offseason splash  —  FOX Sports  —  It is a new world for the Rangers, all right.  —  The defending American League champions, major-league sources say, are in strong enough financial position to add not one but two top free agents — left-hander Cliff Lee and catcher Victor Martinez.

D-backs close to signing Geoff Blum  —  PHOENIX — The D-backs are on the verge of taking their first step towards strengthening their bench.  —  Arizona is closing in on a deal with veteran free agent Geoff Blum on a two-year contract a baseball source confirmed Thursday.

Morneau blasts homer-unfriendly dimensions at Target Field  —  The Twins slugger said he wished the club would adjust the outfield fences.  ‘Right-center to left-center is ridiculous,’ Morneau said in an e-mail to the Star Tribune.  —  When the Twins announced this week that they were making enhancements …

San Diego Padres  —  So, the Padres came up short, if only just, and the legacy of their big finish in 2009 just heralded a nice surprise and second-place irrelevance in 2010.  That's the heartbreak of transient happiness for you, but with a roster stocked with plenty of passing fancies …

Carlos Beltran: Waiving no-trade possible if New York Mets want  —  NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran would consider waiving his no-trade clause if the New York Mets approach him with a deal.  —  The 33-year-old was limited to 64 games this year and 81 the previous season because of right knee injuries.