Sources: Rangers offer minor league deal to Sosa … The Texas Rangers have offered Sammy Sosa a minor league contract and invited him to spring training, where the veteran slugger would have the chance to make the major league club, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Tuesday.

Big names seek big bucks in arbitration  —  NEW YORK (AP) - Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano asked for a raise to $15.5 million while batting champions Joe Mauer and Freddy Sanchez also sought big hikes in salary arbitration Tuesday.  —  AL MVP Justin Morneau and Florida star Miguel Cabrera looked …

Pitching still a major concern for most teams  —  Major league teams have increased their spending to outrageous new levels, and for what?  —  The free-agent market is nearly dry, spring training is a month away and a significant number of teams are still worried about their starting pitching.

Pirates sign Gonzalez, Nady  —  TRIBUNE-REVIEW  —  The Pirates on Tuesday avoided arbitration with left-hander Mike Gonzalez and first baseman Xaiver Nady by signing the players to one-year contracts.  —  Terms of the deals were not announced.  —  Gonzalez saved 24 games last season in his first season as the Pirates' closer.

Mets officially add Schoeneweis, Sosa to bullpen  —  NEW YORK — With their starting rotation shaky, the New York Mets are fortifying their bullpen.  —  The Mets finalized a $10.8 million, three-year contract with left-hander Scott Schoeneweis and a $1.25 million, one-year deal with right-hander Jorge Sosa on Tuesday.

Lidge avoids arbitration by signing deal  —  Reliever to earn $5.35 million in 2007, plus incentives  —  HOUSTON — The Astros wiped another arbitration-eligible player off their "to sign" list when they inked closer Brad Lidge to a one-year deal worth $5.35 million on Tuesday.

The All-Star Game has changed since its last visit here  —  The last time the baseball All-Star Game was played in St. Louis, in 1966, Allan H.  "Bud" Selig was neither an owner nor a commissioner.  —  Selig, the current Major League Baseball commissioner and former owner of the Milwaukee Brewers …

A's avoid arbitration with 1-year deals for Bradley, Scutaro, Calero  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics agreed to one-year contracts with outfielder Milton Bradley, infielder Marco Scutaro and right-hander Kiko Calero on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration for all three regulars.

A's owner outlines new ballpark plans in first public meeting  —  FREMONT, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics co-owner Lew Wolff invoked visions of Boston's Fenway Park and Chicago's Wrigley Field as he outlined an ambitious development plan for a new ballpark Tuesday.

Rockies hit .800 in avoiding arbitration  —  Colorado signs four but team can't agree on deal with Fogg  —  The Rockies avoided arbitration with four players Tuesday only to receive an unexpected surprise with a fifth.  —  Left fielder Matt Holliday, with a 2007 salary of $4.4 million …

Orioles submit arbitration figures … The Orioles submitted arbitration figures to the commissioner's office before Tuesday's deadline for their three eligible players, including second baseman Brian Roberts, whom the club still hopes to sign to a contract extension.

Hudson, Lyon latest to avoid arbitration  —  D-backs come to terms with pair on one-year contracts  —  PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks reached agreements with second baseman Orlando Hudson and reliever Brandon Lyon on Tuesday for $3.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively, avoiding arbitration.