Sox break bank — Agree with Drew, Lugo; Ramirez talks may be dead  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Not long after announcing an agreement in principle with outfielder J.D. Drew [stats], the Red Sox [team stats] continued an aggressive offseason spending spree last night by coming to terms …

Dodgers reach agreement with Schmidt  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - The Dodgers have landed the biggest free-agent pitching prize to date, reaching a preliminary agreement on a three-year, $47 million contract with right-hander Jason Schmidt, FOXSports.com has learned.

Cards stay in bidding, view options  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The Cardinals added new definition to "creative" Tuesday when general manager Walt Jocketty and manager Tony La Russa introduced Braden Looper as a candidate for next season's rotation.  —  The suggestion comes as the Cardinals continue …

Mets to meet with A's, seek Harden  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Mets are expected to meet with Oakland today about acquiring right-hander Rich Harden or possibly another of the A's top starting pitchers, SI.com has learned.  —  A's GM Billy Beane is due to arrive here Wednesday night.

Piazza close to deal with A's, who add Embree  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Oakland Athletics and left-handed reliever Alan Embree agreed to terms on a two-year contract Wednesday, and the club also was closing in on a deal with Mike Piazza to be designated hitter.

Sox's talks center on Rays' Baldelli  —  Outfielder could fill leadoff role; Rowand may return  —  A frozen trade climate began to thaw Tuesday at the winter meetings.  —  "There were a few things that piqued our interest," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said.

Winter meetings: Pirates chase Atlanta's LaRoche  —  Team seen as souring on Suppan, other free-agent pitchers  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Pirates are plenty interested in Atlanta Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche …

Center field will be an inside job  —  Rockies unwilling to test market further to fill void in outfield  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Rockies have taken their search for help in center field internal.  —  "We've seen what has become (of) the center field market and we are not going to play …

KC close to Burgos trade  —  Royals are working to send reliever to Mets for starter Bannister and are talking to Orioles about Sanders deal.  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. |  Frustrated in the free-agent market, the Royals switched Tuesday to the trade front in a determined effort to bolster their rotation.

Post-Dispatch's Hummel named to Hall of Fame  —  The Baseball Writers Association of America this morning announced Post-Dispatch baseball columnist Rick Hummel as winner of the Spink Award, and with it enshrinement into the writers' wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

SEXSON MIGHT BE 1ST OPTION  —  While the Yankees met with Shea Hillenbrand's agent yesterday, another option at first base surfaced.  And while Richie Sexson is an expensive alternative, it could be one for the Yankees.  —  The Mariners have let teams know they are looking to move Sexson …

Bonds makes surprise appearance at meetings  —  ORLANDO, Fla. - Nothing that happens this off-season will be more surprising than the sight of Barry Bonds showing up at the winter meetings, looking for a job.  —  The only time players of Bonds' stature attend the meetings is when they are introduced …

Five Deals I like  —  Gary Sheffield, OF-DH, Tigers (via trade)  —  By the time he's through, Sheffield will have had the most itinerant career for a Hall of Famer since Gaylord Perry.  As great a hitter as he is, he simply cannot avoid wearing out his welcome.  Look at his career.

All is not Wells for Williams  —  White Sox GM sits tight, with his eye out for a young pitcher  —  ORLANDO — On Ken Williams' side of the table, the chips are stacked high, like the skyline of Chicago.  Other players eye him enviously, waiting to see how he will play his hand.

Nats' Risky Business  —  The Nationals live in the future, not the present.  They wish you would, too.  It'd make their lives much easier.  And cheaper, too.  —  After losing 21 percent of their attendance last season, their second in Washington, the Nats now want to roll the dice with the affections of their paying public.