Rangers set to push Yankees with 5-year bid for Lee  —  Tweet  —  Armed with the belief the Yankees are willing to pay Cliff Lee $23 million a year, the Rangers are on the verge of making an official offer to retain the left-handed free-agent hurler.  —  According to a person with knowledge …

Red Sox gunning for top outfield target  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  By all accounts, the Red Sox [team stats] are working hard behind the scenes to sign one of the two elite free agent outfielders, Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth.

Memo to Selig: Leave the playoffs alone  —  Almost all of the power brokers at Major League Baseball, an entity that could use a visit to the ophthalmologist for its short-sightedness, burst with pleasure at the idea of expanding the game's postseason.  Publicly, they tout the excitement …

Derek Jeter's agent meets with Yankees GM Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner Tuesday in Tampa: source  —  Derek Jeter's agent, Yankees GM Brian Cashman (below) and owner Hal Steinbrenner convene Tuesday, according to a source.  Another source says there is ‘nothing imminent’ regarding a deal.

Ask Pete Carroll a question...  Join us...  Facebook  —  Twitter  —  Brock Huard  —  Brock Huard played football for his father, Mike, at Puyallup High School before moving on to the University of Washington.  There Brock erased older brother Damon's name on several season and career passing records.

Arbitration offers turned down by 25 out of 27 free agents  —  For all the speculation about which Type A and Type B free agents would and wouldn't accept arbitration offers just two of the 27 eligible players said yes: Frank Francisco of the Rangers and Jason Frasor of the Blue Jays.

Chronicle report: A's met with Adam Dunn yesterday  —  The Chronicle learned this morning that the A's met with Adam Dunn in Houston yesterday, and according to an industry source, Oakland is considered a serious candidate to land a deal with the 31-year-old slugger.

Theriot tweaks Cubs after trade to Cardinals  —  When he was sent to the Dodgers last July in the Ted Lilly trade, Ryan Theriot admitted he had hoped to remain a Cub for life.  —  “I didn't want to go,” Theriot said that day in Denver.  “Obviously, being with an organization from draft day to the major leagues is something special.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)  —  Shortly after Jon Daniels became the youngest general manager in baseball history following the 2005 season, the Rangers fully committed to building a winner through their farm system.  They restocked the organization through trades …

D'Backs To Sign Wily Mo Pena  —  The Diamondbacks will sign Wily Mo Pena to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league Spring Training, MLBTR has learned.  The outfielder drew interest from multiple major league teams, including the Tigers, White Sox and Orioles.

Giants, Miguel Tejada agree to deal  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The World Series champion San Francisco Giants have found their new shortstop, agreeing to terms with free agent Miguel Tejada on a $6.5 million, one-year contract Tuesday.  —  The deal is pending a physical.

Shulman, Orel Hershiser, Bobby Valentine team on Sunday Night Baseball  —  Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser and Bobby Valentine will be in the booth for ESPN's “Sunday Night Baseball” next season, the network announced Wednesday.  —  Shulman has been a radio voice for “Sunday Night Baseball” as well as other ESPN TV games.

The market for starting pitchers  —  After ace left-hander Cliff Lee, there's Carl Pavano and everyone else  —  The New York Post confirmed Wednesday what everyone in baseball has long understood:  —  The Texas Rangers are not going to just send Cliff Lee a thanks-for-the-memories note …

Brewers face non-tender date decisions  —  MILWAUKEE — The list of Brewers free agents could grow by at least a name or two before 10:59 p.m. CT on Thursday.  Just who ends up looking for alternate employment remains to be seen.  —  The Brewers will decide the fate of eight of their players …