Mets discussing two-year contract for Alou  —  The Mets are discussing a two-year contract with free-agent outfielder Moises Alou, FOXSports.com has learned, a deal that would add another older veteran to the team's roster and increase the possibility that outfielder Lastings Milledge would be traded.

Gonzalez, Reds agree to three-year, $14 million deal  —  ESPN's Peter Gammons is reporting that free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez has negotiated a three-year, $14 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, pending a physical.  —  Gonzalez, a slick-fielding shortstop who replaced Edgar Renteria in Boston …

Smizik: Pirates' fans find offseason depressing  —  There are bits and pieces of baseball in the newspaper every day, and almost all are nothing but downright discouraging and disheartening to the ever-shrinking band of black-and-gold bleeders who believe the Pirates' day will come.

White Sox close to dealing Garland  —  The White Sox are close to trading right-hander Jon Garland, according to a rival executive, and the Rangers appear to be the most logical fit.  —  The Rangers pursued Garland at the general managers' meetings in Naples, Fla., and White Sox G.M. Ken Williams …

Rangers misread system's insanity  —  No need for any "aw shucks" foot-shuffling or red faces out at the corner of Ballpark Way and Randol Mill Road.  No apologies necessary.  —  They stepped to the plate and took a swing at reputedly the best pitcher on the market this winter.

GM Williams up in arms  —  Williams fired up over 'misleading' report that Sox are set to deal for Angels' Santana  —  White Sox general manager Ken Williams emphasized pitching and defense Friday as areas in need of improvement for the White Sox this off-season.

Angels name Mike Butcher pitching coach  —  Butcher signs contract for 2007 season with club option for 2008  —  ANAHEIM, CA — The Angels Saturday named Mike Butcher as Major League pitching coach, replacing Bud Black who was hired as the San Diego Padres Manager on November 9th.

Cops: L.A. farmhand charged with crack  —  UNION CITY - A minor league baseball player who had been suspended for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs was in trouble again Thursday after Union City cops caught him with 130 bags of crack cocaine, reports said.

Helms chooses Phils over Yanks' richer offer  —  Maybe Philadelphia isn't as gritty as New York.  Maybe Citizens Bank Park doesn't have the dank, congested charm of Yankee Stadium.  Maybe the Delaware Valley isn't as cosmopolitan as the Metro area.  —  That suits Wes Helms just fine.

Probabilistic Model of Range, 2006  —  The other day I published the first of the Probabilistic Model of Range tables, looking at overall team play.  However, since doing that I noticed something didn't add up.  When I looked at individual fielders, I was getting very strange results.

Garciaparra deal isn't settled yet  —  Dodgers still working on it as Mueller decides to retire and club expresses interest in Soriano.  —  Bill Mueller could serve as a cautionary tale to the Dodgers about the perils of signing a player with a history of injuries.

Glavine, Zito on Omar list  —  Omar Minaya returned from the GM meetings in Florida with several smaller items scratched off his winter to-do list.  He now can focus on making decisions about the bigger names on the Mets' radar, including free agent Barry Zito and waffling incumbent Tom Glavine.

Yanks' farm system becoming hard to ignore  —  Hughes, Clippard lead a pack of talented pitching prospects … When discussing the idea that the Yankees are No. 1, the conversation usually centers around first place in the American League East or which team has the largest payroll.