Sox still plan to make a pitch for Rocket  —  The Red Sox [team stats] arguably will have the strongest starting rotation in the American League heading into spring training, but that will not preclude them from pursuing Roger Clemens one more time.  —  Owner John W. Henry confirmed …

Marlins make moves, plan others  —  Checking out what's percolating in center field, the bullpen and elsewhere with Marlins spring training five weeks away:  —  • General manager Larry Beinfest believes free agent pickup Alex Sanchez has a realistic chance to win the starting spot in center field …

Report: Jays lock up Overbay  —  Deal would keep first baseman in Toronto through 2010  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays have reportedly lured another player away from the temptation of free agency.  According to The Globe and Mail, Toronto has reached an agreement with first baseman Lyle Overbay on a four-year deal worth $24 million.

Hot Stove: How much can key hitters really improve?  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  There emanates, all through the Pirates' organization, a belief that the young core of the team is bound to improve in 2007.  —  "We're going to get better," general manager Dave Littlefield said.

Notes: Encarnacion discusses injury  —  Outfielder to start rehab on surgically repaired wrist next week  —  ST. LOUIS — Juan Encarnacion cleared up a couple of mysteries on Sunday afternoon.  Encarnacion, chatting with reporters at the annual Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up …

New-look Cubs ready to make rounds  —  Fans to get an earful about all the changes  —  The Cubs come out of hibernation this week for the annual off-season spinfest known as the Cubs Convention, hoping to assure a shell-shocked fan base that last year's 96-loss disaster won't be repeated.

Jacque Jones  —  A while back I wrote in this space that I thought Jacque Jones would be a solid, last ditch addition for the Pirates in right field.  Jones will turn 32 this year but he isn't the typical older, plug-in player the Pirates usually go after.  Over 162 games Jones averages 23 home runs and 80 RBI's.

A Giant mess gets messier  —  Latest Bonds twist won't help his cause  —  Holliston's Mark Sweeney long has been considered a great teammate, one of those guys who's effective on the field and contributes many intangibles off it.  —  So what a kick in the teeth it must have been for Sweeney …

Graphing the Umpires  —  I've touched on this topic before, but I think I have something new to bring to the table now.  In the past, I've attempted to evaluate umpires based on the statistics that the pitchers on the mound are putting up.  I made some tables, saw a few trends, and that was that.

Pirates' new owner embraces life in the open  —  Nutting's bold personality in board rooms, passion for the outdoors bely a reclusive image brought by years of silence about baseball  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  By all accounts, the personality of Barney Dreyfuss …

For Pitchers, National League Really Is an Easier Out  —  The quip has become a chorus.  —  In debating whether Barry Zito will earn his $126 million from the San Francisco Giants after posting a combined 3.85 earned run average with the Oakland Athletics the last two seasons, doubters say, "But he is going to the National League."