Despite losses, Orioles still perched on top in AL East  —  As January nears, has any AL East team separated itself from the pack?  —  Improvement?  Certainly.  The Red Sox, Blue Jays, and possibly the Rays (through injured players returning) have improved.

Starlin Castro's agent denies arrest report in club shooting  —  Starlin Castro's agent refuted reports that the Cubs' shortstop was arrested in a nightclub shooting in the Dominican Republic, saying he voluntarily went to the police to be questioned.  —  According to a report …

Tigers SS Jose Iglesias makes progress toward return  —  Jose Iglesias has one hurdle left to clear.  —  And it's the same hurdle the Tigers' shortstop couldn't clear last season, a season that was lost to stress fractures in each of his lower legs.  —  Iglesias has progressed positively …

Pierce's future plans include visiting Celts  —  Photo by:  —  TWO ON ONE: Washington's Paul Pierce and Kris Humphries team up against Jared Sullinger during the C's loss Saturday night to the Wizards.  —  By:  —  Boston hasn't seen the last of Paul Pierce, and it's quite possible the Celtic organization hasn't, either.

How will Tim Raines and the other contenders do on the 2015 HOF ballot?  —  We can split up the ballots submitted into 4 types of voters:  —  1. Did the ballot include Bonds and/or Clemens?  2. Otherwise, did the ballot have the full 10 slots?  3. Otherwise, did the ballot have 7-9 slots?

Blue Jays await Takashi Toritani decision  —  Japanese media reporting the shortstop is mulling offers from the Jays and San Diego Padres, but decision not expected until new year.  —  Takashi Toritani is considering a jump to the majors at 33 after a lengthy career with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japan Central League.

Mets, Marlins are mirror images, but which can match Nationals?  —  You know what is hard to find as teams configure for 2015?  Clubs in a rebuilding posture.  —  The Rockies, for example, are talking about holding onto Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez because historically …

Cardinals have a legion of lefties  —  It was fashionable and correct, to a large degree, to find fault with the Cardinals' offense last year when they hit just .254 with men in scoring position, compared to the remarkable .330 of the season before, and when they batted just .253 overall.

Source: Phils, Wandy Rodriguez agree to minor-league deal  —  It appears that Ruben Amaro Jr. is making a move to shore up the back of the rotation.  —  A source confirmed to CSNPhilly.com Saturday that left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Phillies, pending a physical.

Mind over matter: Bauer goes high-tech in offseason regimen  —  7/13/14: Trevor Bauer pitches 6 2/3 shutout innings, striking out a career-high 10 batters while allowing eight hits and three walks  —  CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer craves information.  He enjoys diving head first into data …

Former equipment manager had been with organization since 1971  —  In his final years with the Rangers, Joe Macko served as an ambassador and representative to the community.  —  ARLINGTON — Joe Macko, who had been associated with the Rangers since their arrival from Washington, D.C. …