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.

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.

Drew, Red Sox continue negotiating contract  —  It was Dec. 5, at about 6:45 p.m., in the lobby of The Dolphin Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., when Scott Boras announced that J.D. Drew had agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with the Red Sox.  Today is Jan. 17, 2007.

Nats, Snelling Agree; Other Deals Pending  —  The Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year, $450,000 contract with newly acquired outfielder Chris Snelling yesterday, thus avoiding an arbitration hearing with one of their six eligible players.  However, none of the others is expected …

Cabrera will cash in big  —  Arbitration could net star up to $7.4 million  —  That the Marlins and Miguel Cabrera couldn't come to terms Tuesday and avoid arbitration is irrelevant.  —  Win or lose his hearing next month, Cabrera will be among baseball's all-time highest-paid position players …

Pirates, Sanchez far apart in arbitration  —  Gonzalez, Nady sign, but five others exchange salary figures  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates avoided arbitration with closer Mike Gonzalez and first baseman/outfielder Xavier Nady by agreeing to one-year contracts yesterday …

Unsigned Bonds Awaits Further Review  —  Six weeks after they agreed to terms on new contracts, Barry Bonds and J. D. Drew remain unsigned.  Bonds hasn't signed with the Giants; Drew hasn't signed with the Red Sox.  That prompts a thought.  If both contracts were to fall through …

Sox to talk $ with 2 players  —  The Red Sox [team stats] are expected to exchange salary figures with their only two arbitration-eligible players today but are hopeful of avoiding hearings next month for determining how much outfielder Wily Mo Pena and reliever Brendan Donnelly will be paid this year.

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.

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.

World champ Cards visit White House  —  Team has brief ceremony with President Bush to celebrate  —  WASHINGTON — St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan, chairman of the board/general partner William O. DeWitt and a group of players got a chance to meet President George W. Bush at the White House last August.

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 …

Big pay boost for LaRoche  —  Braves, first baseman $900K apart in arbitration offers  —  Adam LaRoche's career-best performance in 2006 helped earn the Braves first baseman what will amount to about a 700-percent raise for the upcoming season.  —  LaRoche asked for $3.7 million …

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 …