Drug violation nets Mets pitcher Mota 50-game ban  —  NEW YORK — Relief pitcher Guillermo Mota was suspended 50 games on Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy.  —  The 33-year-old Mota, who finished the season with the Mets and filed for free agency Tuesday, was 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA this season.

'A step in that direction'  —  Yankees bench coach Mattingly could succeed Torre  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Don Mattingly is moving up to New York Yankees' bench coach next season, a promotion that makes him the early favorite to one day succeed Joe Torre as manager.

Getting Matthews tops Giants' to-do list  —  The Giants are making free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. a top priority this winter, believing he can energize the top of the lineup and bring a dynamic presence to an outfield defense that was among the worst in the major leagues this year.

Cards go to work on 2007  —  What honeymoon?  —  Barely 48 hours after enjoying a parade and rally celebrating a World Series title, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty on Tuesday concluded a second day of offseason planning with his lieutenants and manager Tony La Russa.

Japan's Matsuzaka headed to majors  —  Daisuke Matsuzaka, the most dominant pitcher in Japanese baseball for the past eight seasons, is heading to the major leagues.  —  "I feel very relieved today," Matsuzaka told a packed press conference.  "I've wanted to go to the major leagues for a long …

Glavine likes Mets' pitch  —  Near deal for 2 years, $25M  —  TOKYO - Not only does Tom Glavine appear poised to remain a Met, he apparently intends to pitch in Flushing through the 2008 season.  Glavine and the Mets are deep in discussions about a two-year, $25 million contract …

Internet Baseball Awards  —  The Results Are In  —  It's time to announce the winners of the 15th annual Internet Baseball Awards.  More than 1,400 cyberspace baseball fans participated in this effort to honor those players and managers whose performance in 2006 were most deserving.

BERNIE MAY GO BYE-BYE  —  A year ago it was a lot easier to predict Bernie Williams was going to remain a Yankee.  Now, the beloved Yankee icon can't be sure he will return for a 16th year with the only organization he has ever taken a check from.  —  Ironically, the 38-year-old switch-hitting outfielder …

Beasley, Nationals part ways  —  Caroline native Tony Beasley won't return with Washington Nationals  —  The Nationals and third base coach Tony Beasley officially parted ways yesterday, but the Bowling Green native said he is preparing to accept a job as the minor league infield coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Astros dealing with matters of the heart … Business is business, and Astros owner Drayton McLane has better ways to spend his grocery distribution money than on a 38-year-old first baseman — especially one with an arthritic right shoulder that makes the baseball feel like a shot put every time he throws it.