New Agreement Includes Draft, Rule 5 Changes  —  ST. LOUIS — Overshadowed by more wide-ranging issues and the sheer euphoria of an agreement between Major League Baseball and the Players Association being reached with no rancor or threats of a work stoppage, the structure …

With hitting problems ended, Rolen's rockin' again  —  Ever since Scott Rolen and Tony La Russa couldn't agree on why he was struggling at the plate, one thing is for sure: Scott Rolen is no longer struggling at the plate.  —  Since Rolen was benched for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series …

Twins' Liriano contemplating elbow surgery  —  The Twins pitcher, unhappy with his rehabilitation progress, left the team's Fort Myers facility to re-examine his options.  —  Still experiencing pain in his left elbow, Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano has left the team's year-round facility …

Bombers planning to pick up & ship out Sheff  —  ST. LOUIS - The biggest buzz among the few general managers attending the World Series is the silent auction the Yankees have apparently already begun for Gary Sheffield.  It turns out that Yankee GM Brian Cashman had always intended to pick …

Bochy meets with Giants GM for chat  —  Candidates for manager include Angels' Black  —  As expected, Padres manager Bruce Bochy, one of four candidates for the San Francisco managerial job, recently chatted with the Giants.  According to multiple sources, Bochy and Giants General Manager Brian Sabean met in the Bay Area.

Award minor consolation  —  Delgado gets trophy but says it's too painful to stay and watch Game 3  —  ST. LOUIS — Carlos Delgado was at the World Series after all.  He capped an outstanding first year with the Mets by receiving the Roberto Clemente Award, then he made it clear that he would like to have more years with the Mets.

Player Profile  —  Carlos Guillen  —  Thanks to a 2006 season that has seen Detroit reach the World Series for the first time since 1984, Carlos Guillen has finally received a little bit of the press he's more than earned over the course of his career with the Tigers.

A-Rod, Yanks stand united  —  Agent: Brian vows no trades  —  Speculation about the possibility of Alex Rodriguez getting traded will surely linger until he actually takes the field at the Stadium on Opening Day, but the embattled third baseman's agent said yesterday that he has received assurances …

GM wants Yount back  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  St. Louis - Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is still optimistic that bench coach Robin Yount will return to the club next season.  —  Melvin, attending the three World Series games here, spoke briefly with Yount …

Girardi still undecided  —  ST. LOUIS — Joe Girardi notified the Washington Nationals on Monday that he was dropping out of their managerial hunt.  The former Yankees catcher said yesterday that he has had not had contact with the Yankees, but he would be a natural candidate for a coaching opening.

Rock bottom  —  Ex-Sox pitcher Stewart threw it all away when he succumbed to drugs  —  SALISBURY, N.C. — His life gone up in smoke, his eyes vacant, former major league pitcher Sammy Stewart remembers the beginning of the end.  —  "The first time I ever smoked crack was in Framingham …

Players Union to Yankees: No New Taxes  —  In the negotiations that culminated in a new labor agreement that was announced yesterday, the union had the best interests of George Steinbrenner's checkbook in mind.  Whereas the other clubs are out to get the Yankees' money and inhibit …

Vote For Your Favorite White Guy!  —  The legend of the scrappy, hustling, get-yer-uniform-dirty utility player holds a special place in baseball lore, probably because no sport more values its ... well, no sport has more white people.  It's a sacred role on a team: White guy who's not that skilled but is popular because he's "gritty."

Winds of change  —  Manager Lou Piniella should consider 4 key categories while deciding how to improve the Cubs  —  ST. LOUIS — During his introductory news conference last week, Lou Piniella vowed to pore over statistics sheets this winter in an effort to determine why the Cubs don't have more success at Wrigley Field.