After $1 billion in player spending, Dodgers under MLB mandate to cut debt  —  Guggenheim Baseball Management leaders — including, from left, Bobby Patton, Stan Kasten, Magic Johnson, Mark Walter, Peter Gruber and Todd Boehly — vowed in 2012 to build “something long-term, and sustainable.”

Heyman: CBA talks back on as deadline looms  —  Union leaders and MLB negotiators will be back at the bargaining table Sunday in Dallas after a five-day respite.  And while an offseason lockout looms as a possibility for Thursday's deadline, high hopes remain for both sides to reach agreement …

Rays: Looking for movement?  Look to trades, late-winter leftovers  —  The pace, and direction, of the Rays' offseason could change with one phone call, most dramatically with a deal to trade one of their sought-after starters, with the clues coming in whether the pieces they get are for the present or future.

Versatile Sean Rodriguez agrees to deal with Braves  —  The Braves wanted to add some versatility and power to their bench and did so Thursday, agreeing to a two-year, $11.5 million free-agent contract with infielder-outfielder Sean Rodriguez.  —  A person familiar with negotiations confirmed …

Royals prospect Josh Staumont can throw 100 mph, but now comes the hard part  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  The pitch that changed Josh Staumont's life felt just like every other pitch, and if not for the story that follows, you would probably find the whole scene exceedingly routine.  Boring, even.

Giants have considered trading for Pablo Sandoval  —  At least internally, the Giants have considered a reunion with third baseman Pablo Sandoval, a baseball source told the Herald.  —  How motivated the Red Sox should be to trade Sandoval depends on two other questions …

Will Stephen Drew return?  And where will the Nationals find power off the bench?  —  When Stephen Drew played in his first season as a National, he played with energy.  He sped around the bases with sneaky speed.  His hands looked quick, his swing looked crisp.

Kelly: Tim Raines is a poster boy for sports injustice, but his snub doesn't deserve our obsession  —  This week, Chris Bittle, Liberal MP for St. Catharines, addressed an issue of importance to all Canadians.  —  “I rise today to speak of an upcoming ballot,” Bittle told the House of Commons.