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.

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.

Benson likely to stay with O's in 2007 … It appears that Kris Benson will be in the Orioles' 2007 rotation, with his agent saying Tuesday that the right-hander is unlikely to exercise his contractual right to demand a trade.  —  However, as expected, the five-man rotation probably won't include Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Padres leave Roberts in limbo  —  The Padres yesterday told the agent for Dave Roberts what has been apparent for several months: The club's No. 1 priority of the offseason is to acquire a power hitter, even if it means losing Roberts to free agency as a result.

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," …

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.

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) …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …