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.

Boston's Wily Mo quandary  —  Wily Mo Pena is eligible for arbitration, and the Red Sox are dealing with that.  They are also dealing with the reality that Pena, an extraordinary talent who cannot improve if he doesn't get some at-bats, won't have a clear avenue to get at-bats consistently this year.

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.