Pirates near two-year deal with Sanchez  —  Team also in talks with free-agent pitcher Jeff Weaver  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates and National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez are close to agreement on a two-year contract.

Finally!  Drew, Sox appear ready to roll  —  The word from the two camps for some time now is that a resolution to the J.D. Drew [stats]-Red Sox [team stats] saga is just a few days away.  —  It appears the sides really mean it this time.  —  According to sources familiar with the contract talks …

Mets, Randolph agree to new deal  —  Manager to get three-year contract with a club option for 2010  —  NEW YORK — In the moments of exalt that followed the Mets' elimination of the Dodgers from the postseason in October, Willie Randolph spoke about how much he enjoyed watching his players celebrate.

Business of Baseball Report  —  MLB Close to Deal With DirecTV Over Extra Innings  —  In a somewhat surprising move, MLB is close to an agreement with DirecTV that would give the satellite television company an exclusive agreement for the league's Extra Innings baseball package.

Japan's baseball owners looking for ways to keep talent from leaving  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  TOKYO — Japan's baseball owners are looking for ways to reduce the talent drain to the major leagues.  —  Under Japanese baseball rules, a player cannot become a free agent until …

Yankees seek working agreement with China baseball … A contingent of executives from the New York Yankees will fly to China next week with the hope of concluding ongoing negotiations on a working agreement with the China Baseball Association.  This could lead to the Yankees dispatching coaches …

The greening of Mr. Jenks  —  Recipe for a winner: Mix in more veggies, add a happy home  —  Sitting in front of his locker during spring training last year, White Sox closer Bobby Jenks was asked about the chip on his shoulder.  —  The bulky right-hander smirked.

Historical WSAB: 41 through 80  —  Last week, I presented a ranking of everyday players based on a new twist on Win Shares: Win Shares Above Bench.  I believe this is a definite improvement over basic Win Shares (as discussed last week).  Although it's not perfect, it's pretty darn good for ranking the all-time best.

Low price could mean Zambrano returns  —  The Mets, aware that their starting rotation is replete with questions, hope to sign one more low-cost free-agent starting pitcher, a person familiar with the situation said yesterday.  Victor Zambrano, best known for being on the wrong side …

Mariners Notebook: Felix looking fit; Hargrove fired up  —  Hernandez set for spring after losing 20 pounds  —  The Mariners showed off a trimmed-down Felix Hernandez and a newly fired-up manager Mike Hargrove on Wednesday at their annual pre-spring training media get-together.

Mets and Aaron Sele agree to a one-year contract  —  Aaron Sele, who has posted a 145-110 record during his major league career, today signed a one-year minor league contract with the New York Mets.  —  Sele, a 36-year-old righthander who was selected to two American League All-Star teams …

The Wit and Wisdom of Cliff Floyd  —  I sure hope Moises Alou knows how to talk, because we're losing a great, quotable guy with Cliff Floyd signing with the Cubs.  My all-time favorite Floyd quotes:  —  "Things just ain't looking bright.  You have to find a bright spot.

Focused Thome looks ahead to 500  —  Slugger acknowledges landmark while preparing to stay strong  —  PEORIA, Ill. — Jim Thome looks ahead at his illustrious baseball career and quickly realizes there are more years in baseball behind him than ahead of him.

There's a mound of candidates for bullpen  —  The Red Sox now have nine relievers under contract after avoiding arbitration with Brendan Donnelly, who agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal Tuesday.  Under terms of the contract, Donnelly is to receive an additional $25,000 for 25 games finished and $25,000 for 30 games finished.