Rangers setting sights on Zito  —  Quick hits from the winter meetings:  — The Rangers are making a major push for free-agent left-hander Barry Zito, major league sources say, and continue to negotiate with free-agent right-hander Vicente Padilla.  —  Zito, 28, could end up with a six-year …

Trading Sexson may be an option for Mariners  —  Ibanez might play first base if deal's made  —  ORLANDO — The Mariners are all but locked into Jose Guillen to play right field, and during the winter meetings that start this morning, the club's brass will talk to Luis Gonzalez about playing left field.

Pirates cast wide net for lefty bat  —  Youngster with power is top priority as winter meetings open  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — He is the Pirates' perceived missing piece in the lineup.  —  He is young, large, left-handed and strong enough …

Winter Meetings Whispers: Day 1  —  Red Sox slugger Ramirez in high demand this offseason  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Winter Meetings are under way, which means it's time for the annual game of "Where's Manny Going?"  —  Manny Ramirez, the gifted and extremely well-paid outfielder …

Rockies think their strength is within  —  Division rivals keep busy in offseason  —  While the rest of the National League West has been creating an offseason stir, the Rockies, so far, have been willing to settle for such subtle moves as re-signing second baseman Kaz Matsui …

Towers' $25 million chump change now  —  Clearly, as it's turning out, the insanity wasn't just temporary.  —  With its nonlinear dimensions and unwritten rules, baseball has always been a game for the daft, the oddball, the lefty.  Indeed, its quirks were celebrated, revered.

First Civil Rights Game set for March 31  —  Cardinals to play Indians in Memphis as part of celebration  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Major League Baseball will stage its inaugural "Civil Rights Game" this coming March 31, when the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals play …

Avoiding Costly Moves  —  Rebuilding Nats Expect to Limit Spending for 2007 Roster  —  Two years ago, the Washington Nationals — shackled with a minuscule budget issued by their owners, Major League Baseball — signed Esteban Loaiza, a beleaguered right-hander, to a one-year, $2.9-million contract.

Isringhausen is ahead of schedule  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Less than three months after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery, closer Jason Isringhausen insists the Cardinals should plan on him being available to pitch the ninth inning on opening day.  —  "I'm tired of other people doing my job," Isringhausen said this weekend.

'Do The Wright Thing' gala a big success  —  Benefit raises funds and awareness for children's causes  —  NEW YORK — Snoballs.  —  Ring Dings.  —  Yodels.  —  Twinkies.  —  The dessert tray inside the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square on Saturday night spoke volumes about David Wright's flair when it comes to special events.

Scout.com Roundtable: Rule V Draft Preview  —  The MLB Rule V Draft concludes the Winter Meetings and is, sometimes, the highlight of a team's off-season.  While we hope it does not come to that for your team, Scout.com has convened the roundtable to discuss 36 prospects that are eligible …

Going Nine: The Real Capital of Baseball  —  (ORLANDO) New Yorkers are quick to call Gotham the center of the baseball world.  While most of the time they'd be correct, it's definitely not the case this week.  —  A Walt Disney Resort is not exactly baseball heaven (and not exactly the place …

Will's Mill  —  Enjoy the Silence  —  The Winter Meetings opened with ... a resounding silence.  As the baseball world descended on Orlando, the action was limited to dinner.  Jenn Sterger and I dined near Theo Epstein, but I seemed no closer to signing Daisuke Matsuzaka than he did.