Red Sox will not pick up Foulke's option  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox will not exercise their $7.5 million option on reliever Keith Foulke, the star closer on their 2004 World Series championship team who struggled with injuries and inconsistency the past two seasons.

Rangers chat: What about the new guy?  —  Rangers beat writer Evan Grant answered questions about the team on Tuesday, Nov. 7.  —  Evan Grant: Welcome to the Ron Washington era.  If his opening press conference is any indication, the Washington Era will be full of candid, honest, often funny, moments.

Towers' option picked up for 2008  —  Padres Chief Executive Officer Sandy Alderson said Tuesday night he has picked up the option on General Manager Kevin Towers for 2008, guaranteeing Towers a seven-figure income for that year.  —  When Alderson took over as CEO in May 2005 …

Howard's clutch homer sparks MLB  —  OSAKA, Japan — Perhaps the loaded lineup of Major League Baseball had done so much damage in the first three games of this Japan All-Star Series that Nippon Professional Baseball finally reached the point of pure fear.  —  For, in Game 4, NPB's pitching staff nibbled all night, issuing 10 walks.

Report: Gooden scheduled to be released from prison  —  GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former baseball star Dwight Gooden is set to be released from prison Thursday after finishing a sentence for violating his probation by using cocaine.  —  "He's eager to get home and see his family again," …

Update: Gravity-Defying Baseball Pitch Ready for U.S.  —  American baseball fans are preparing to finally get a closer look at the "gyroball," a pitch that may or may not really exist, but one that has been steadily gaining notoriety over the past year.  —  The pitcher most often associated …

Expect a bidding war for Japan's Matsuzaka  —  The days are shorter, the temperatures are dropping, and NBA games are infecting the television.  —  In baseball, that means it's almost open season on free agents.  —  So to get you ready for one of the most frantic (and expensive) …

Lonnie Smith Wanted To Shoot John Schuerholz  —  We had heard that Lonnie Smith, the former Cardinals and Braves outfielder whose frenetic baserunning was almost as breathtaking as watching him try to play defense (Bill James once pointed out that Smith "really does fall down almost every game) …

Darryl Strawberry: Live And In Person  —  "We used to tag-team women.  I know all you dudes in here know what I mean when I say that.  We used to laugh about it, but now I know it was really wrong."  —  That sentence was uttered today by Darryl Strawberry, the star player on the world champion …

Reports: Athletics will build stadium in Fremont  —  The Oakland Athletics are expected to announce next week they will build a new stadium in suburban Fremont, Calif., the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday, citing sources close to negotiations for the deal.

Winter of discontent for Sox?  —  Exodus of prospects from Venezuela no problem, Guillen says  —  Venezuela has produced White Sox standout shortstops Chico Carrasquel, Luis Aparicio and Ozzie Guillen, as well as top Venezuelan victory leader Freddy Garcia.

Centers Thomas, Haywood Reportedly in Recent Fight  —  Washington Wizards centers Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood were involved in a physical altercation last Thursday in which the two traded punches at Verizon Center, according to two team sources.  —  One source, who requested anonymity …

Offseason preview: Shop swap  —  The owners had things under control there for a few years, didn't they?  —  Times were tight, they said.  Offers from different teams for the same players were strangely similar.  —  Only George Steinbrenner and a few others were willing to step out of line to pay for premium talent.