Hiring raises energy level  —  ARLINGTON - If there is one attribute readily evident in Ron Washington, it is that he makes people want to give.  —  That would be an asset in any endeavor but should serve him well as he takes over as manager of the Rangers and attempts to calm a clubhouse …

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.

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 …

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 …

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," …

Nationals bolster scouting department  —  Washington adds 10 scouts, extend Brown's contract  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals/Expos had a small scouting staff due to their limited budget from 2002-05, and could not afford to travel to Latin America or Asia to scout potential big-league players.

Redman is Royals' Pitcher of the Year  —  Left-hander makes splash in first, and perhaps final, year in KC  —  KANSAS CITY — It might or might not have been Mark Redman's only season with the Royals but, by golly, he made it a good one.  —  Redman, after leading the Royals with 11 victories …

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.

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) …

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.

Reds name pitching coach  —  CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky today announced that Dick Pole has joined the Major League staff as pitching coach.  —  Pole, 56, previously was the pitching coach on the Major League staffs of the Chicago Cubs (1988-91) …

Iwamura officially available to MLB  —  Gold Glove-winning third baseman considered a top acquisition  —  Akinori Iwamura, a left-handed-hitting, Gold Glove-winning third baseman, is the latest Japanese star made available to Major League clubs through the posting process.