Dodgers near deal with Wolf  —  The Dodgers, angling to protect themselves against the possible loss of free-agent right-hander Greg Maddux, are the front-runners to sign free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Maddux, 40, wants a two-year deal, major-league sources say …

Sources: O's agree to deal with Baez … The Orioles have struck out to this point in adding a slugger to the middle of their lineup, but they are having no such problems in overhauling their bullpen.  According to club sources, the Orioles have agreed in principal to a three-year deal …

From Barry to ... Manny?  Giants talking to Red Sox about a deal for Ramirez  —  As the Giants work to complete a three-year contract with center fielder Dave Roberts, they are talking to the Red Sox about acquiring one of Roberts' former teammates in Boston, a big fish named Manny Ramirez.

Tough Choice on McGwire  —  On Friday, Hall of Fame ballots will be mailed to the approximately 575 voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.  —  Though there are few certainties in life, it's guaranteed that all Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn have to worry about is not whether …

TheBigStory  —  Derek Jeter gets entirely too much credit for being Captain Intangibles and not enough for being one of the best offensive players of our generation.  —  Those who follow the Yankees only on YES know he is treated with the sort of reverence reserved for players of another era …

Brewers catch a deal  —  Estrada, Davis centerpieces of trade with Arizona  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  The Milwaukee Brewers, who ended the 2006 season somewhat nervous about their catching situation, cast those concerns aside Saturday with a six-player trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In Chicago, the $136 Million Question  —  When rumors surfaced that the Chicago Cubs had signed Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million contract, reporters ran to General Manager Jim Hendry for confirmation.  Were the Cubs really going to be that ... aggressive?  —  "We won 66 ballgames," Hendry told them.

Reporters doing voitng: Write-on, or bad idea?  —  The e-mail inbox of Chicago sportswriter Joe Cowley has been flooded ever since the American League MVP announcement earlier this week, and a few of the 500 messages have included some downright disgusting words from Yankees fans.

At home with Felix Hernandez  —  VALENCIA, Venezuela — The noon sun belts out high heat as a bleary-eyed Felix Hernandez drags himself from his bedroom.  —  An entire morning has passed since his first wake-up call, from a rooster serenading him just outside the door.