Slammin' Sammy returning?  —  The Rangers' search for another right-handed bat has led them to Sammy Sosa, who worked out for the Rangers and had dinner with general manager Jon Daniels and owner Tom Hicks on Monday.  —  Sosa, who was signed as a free agent by the Rangers in 1985 and later traded …

Marlins, Willis agree to deal prior to exchanging figures … Dontrelle Willis reached agreement Monday on a one-year, guaranteed $6.45 million contract with the Florida Marlins, a day before he was scheduled to exchange salary arbitration figures with the club.

Sheffield Makes Noise Again, This Time in a Book  —  In an autobiography to be published this spring, Gary Sheffield, a player famous for voicing his displeasure, describes his relationship with Barry Bonds, his link to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid distribution case …

Sources: Yankee Stadium to host '08 All-Star Game … Yankee Stadium will be the site of the 2008 All-Star Game, sources in baseball said, in the last year of the ballpark.  —  The new Yankee Stadium is scheduled to open in 2009, and old Yankee Stadium closed, 86 years after the ballpark …

Does Tom have Secret he'd like to share?  —  Has Tom Brady [stats] traded up?  Word from San Diego is that supermodel Gisele Bundchen - who once professed her admiration for the New England Patriots [team stats] QB/QT - was outside the Pats' locker room after Tom & Co. shocked the Chargers on Sunday.

Hall of Famer Sutton to Be a Voice for the Nationals  —  With the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles both set to broadcast their games this season on MASN, the Nationals chose Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton as their color commentator.  Together with Jim Palmer, it gives the network a Hall of Fame pitcher in each team's booth.

White Sox and Joe Crede agree to terms on one-year contract  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $4.94-million contract with third baseman Joe Crede, avoiding arbitration.  —  Crede, 28, received his first Silver Slugger Award and was named the third baseman …

Second player needed for LaRoche deal, but who?  —  Pirates, Braves still stuck on Atlanta first baseman  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates are, by all accounts, casting a wide net in their search for a left-handed power bat, particularly in light …

Royals have a potential star in Gordon … When Dayton Moore took over as general manager of the woeful Kansas City Royals, he inherited the worst 25-man roster in the big leagues and an organization almost completely devoid of pitching.  But the cupboard wasn't bare, as the Royals …

Rockies sign Mabry  —  While continuing to pursue right-hander Brian Lawrence, the Rockies landed their potential left-handed bat off the bench today.  —  Colorado signed veteran John Mabry, 36, to a one-year, minor-league deal.  Mabry, who finished last season with the Chicago Cubs …

Little could get contract extension  —  With the Dodgers' chances of landing a power hitter before spring training dwindling, extending the contract of Manager Grady Little is one of the few loose ends.  —  Little and General Manager Ned Colletti have developed such a strong relationship that neither man considers the matter urgent.

Opting for low risk  —  Always looking for yet another low-risk, high-reward piece to the puzzle, general manager Omar Minaya will add Jorge Sosa to his pitching ranks this week when the Mets formally announce his one-year, $1.25-million deal for next season.

Mets Clear a Comeback Trail for Sierra  —  How can you like a guy like this?  —  Rubén Sierra is batting in the ninth inning of a game against Texas, the last game before the All-Star Game last July.  Minnesota is down by three runs with a runner on second base, two out and Joe Mauer on deck.

Cubs agree to terms with Ohman  —  The Chicago Cubs today announced that the club has agreed to a two-year deal through the 2008 season with left-handed pitcher Will Ohman.  —  Ohman, 29, set career-highs with 78 games pitched, 65.1 innings and 74 strikeouts with Chicago in 2006.