New mix in Sox's outfield  —  Erstad signing near; groin surgery sidelines Podsednik  —  With SoxFest just a few days away, the shape of the White Sox's outfield has taken a dramatic turn with the impending signing of free agent Darin Erstad and recurrence of an old groin injury …

Ohka and Blue Jays reach preliminary agreement  —  TORONTO (AP) — Right-hander Tomo Ohka and the Toronto Blue Jays reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a one-year, $1.5 million contract.  —  Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said the deal was pending a physical.

Posada: Williams Is Hoping to Play  —  There is no spot on the Yankees' roster for Bernie Williams, who is uncomfortable as a free agent after 16 seasons in New York.  Williams does not want to retire, yet he does not want to leave the Yankees.  —  Jorge Posada, who received an award …

Cards hope to learn Weaver's fate this week  —  The Cardinals probably will learn this week whether their two-year offer to free-agent pitcher Jeff Weaver is enough to keep the righthander in their starting rotation three months after he became a cog in their World Series championship push.

Perlozzo offers thoughts on baseball's economics … WASHINGTON // Washington Nationals owner Theodore Lerner wants to curb spending on player salaries, New York Yankees President Randy Levine wants to limit his team's luxury tax payments, while Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo …

Delgado may miss opener  —  Carlos Delgado might not be with the Mets when they open the season in St. Louis on April 1.  —  The first baseman told El Nuevo Dia in Puerto Rico that his pregnant wife Betzaida Garcia's due date roughly coincides with Opening Day.  "My child comes first," he told the newspaper.

Reid denies McNabb unhappy with Eagles  —  'People are making a lot of things up here that aren't true,' coach says  —  PHILADELPHIA - Less than a week after he canceled Donovan McNabb's news conference, coach Andy Reid dismissed reports that his star quarterback is unhappy with the organization.

Reds acquire Saarloos, sign Bellhorn  —  Cincinnati bolsters pitching corps, adds veteran infielder  —  CINCINNATI — Add one more name to the list of candidates for the Reds' fifth starter spot.  —  Cincinnati acquired right-hander Kirk Saarloos in a trade with the Athletics on Tuesday for Minor League reliever David Shafer.

Four teams that could surprise in '07  —  To start with, some parameters.  —  A team can't qualify as a surprise if it won 87 games last season (the Blue Jays), if it contended as recently as 2005 (the Indians) or if it spent $300 million this off-season (the Cubs).

Wedge has plan for Tribe  —  Platoons in left, right; Garko must earn spot  —  CLEVELAND - Not surprisingly, manager Eric Wedge has a plan for the Indians.  —  You probably knew that already.  —  Part of Wedge's (and General Manager Mark Shapiro's) grand design involves using five outfielders …

RHP Seanez, INF Tatis to get deals with Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — Reliever Rudy Seanez, who used to play for Los Angeles, and infielder Fernando Tatis, who enjoyed the most memorable accomplishment of his career at Dodger Stadium, agreed Tuesday to minor league contracts with the Dodgers.

Managing to remain humble  —  ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Little about Manny Acta's house stands out.  —  Sure, it's a nice place: Four bedrooms plus a playroom, with an enclosed pool and hot tub in the backyard and a huge HDTV in the living room.  —  But that's what most upper-middle class homes look like these days.