Bids on next Japanese pitcher  —  The posting closed for a second Japanese pitcher yesterday, and while the competition for lefty Kei Igawa is not as high-profile as it was for Daisuke Matsuzaka, sources have indicated that both the Yankees and Mets bid for Igawa.

Eaton and Phillies agree to 3-year, $24 million deal  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Starting pitcher Adam Eaton and the Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement on a $24 million, three-year contract, a baseball official told The Associated Press on Monday.

NL teams warm up to idea of a Ramírez deal  —  The Manny Ramírez trade chatter predictably spiked upward yesterday, with the winter meetings just days away.  —  While the Red Sox continued to close in on a deal for free agent outfielder J.D. Drew, and have made an offer …

With New Stadium, Name of Game Is Money  —  With the Washington Nationals on the verge of putting the naming rights to their new stadium up for bid, industry sources say the team likely will receive at least $4 million and possibly as much as $10 million per year on the deal …

YANKS KEEP FAITH IN UNIT, PAVANO  —  On the day the Yankees officially welcomed soon-to-be 38-year-old Mike Mussina back into their Kate Moss-thin rotation with a two-year, $23 million deal, Brian Cashman said he believes Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano can be counted on to fill in behind Chien-Ming Wang and Mussina.

Dodgers, Rangers could make deals for Manny  —  The trade market for left fielder Manny Ramirez consists of four teams, according to major-league sources, and the Dodgers and Rangers appear to be more suitable partners for the Red Sox than the Giants and Padres.  —  FOX Bite  —  Videos

McGwire good for only 1 out of 4 for Hall of Fame vote  —  NEW YORK — For one glorious summer, Mark McGwire was bigger than baseball itself.  America stopped to watch each time he came to the plate, and cheered every time he sent a ball into orbit.  —  He could do no wrong, it seemed.

Angels discussing trade with White Sox  —  In a deal that would fill the Angels' need for a power hitter but that would come with a steep price, the Angels and Chicago White Sox have discussed a trade that would send infielder-outfielder Chone Figgins and pitcher Ervin Santana to Chicago …

Blue Jays still negotiating with Zaun  —  TORONTO (AP) -The Toronto Blue Jays have resumed negotiations with free-agent catcher Gregg Zaun after an apparent agreement with Rod Barajas fell through.  —  General manager J.P. Ricciardi said late Monday the team was negotiating with Zaun, and the deal with Barajas was not going ahead.

Sabes says he would decline Hall honor  —  Bret Saberhagen doesn't hold any illusions about his chances of making it into the Baseball Hall of Fame now that he's entered his first year on the ballot.  —  But Saberhagen had some startling words for Hall voters about what he'd do if he got in.

Follies of youth  —  Year-After Effect could strike many young arms in '07  —  The 2006 season might be remembered as the coming of a new age of young pitchers.  Nine pitchers received rookie of the year votes, including AL winner Justin Verlander, the first rookie starting pitcher to win …