Source: M's leading contender to land Weaver  —  In a blow to the World Series champion Cardinals, the Mariners have emerged as the front-runners for free-agent right-hander Jeff Weaver, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Weaver, 31, is deciding whether to push for a one or two-year deal, according to a source close to the negotiations.

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 …

Yankees execs to visit Asia  —  Group scheduled to spend seven days in China, Japan  —  NEW YORK — A team of Yankees executives will travel to China next week to outline possible future growth efforts for Major League Baseball overseas, the team announced Thursday.

M's mission: Suzuki talks may drag on for a while  —  SEATTLE — Ichiro Suzuki's future has become the most important issue for the issue-overloaded Seattle Mariners.  —  And it may be around awhile.  —  The six-time All-Star will make $11 million in the final season of a $44 million, four-year deal.

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.

Hall of Fame baseball writer Lang dies at 85  —  NEW YORK — Jack Lang, a Hall of Fame baseball writer who for two decades had the pleasant assignment of telling players they'd been elected to Cooperstown, died Thursday.  He was 85.  —  Lang had been ill for an extended period with a variety of ailments …

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 …

A's, Kielty agree to $2.1 million, 1-year deal  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics all but completed their roster heading into spring training, agreeing Thursday with outfielder Bobby Kielty on a $2.1 million, one-year contract that avoided arbitration.

Cubs part ways with Rusch  —  Serious blood clot in lung shortened southpaw's '06 season  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs announced Thursday that they have released left-handed pitcher Glendon Rusch, whose 2006 season ended early because of a life-threatening blood clot in his lung.

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.

Inside Shea - Mets Top 10 Prospects  —  The July 31, 2004 trade that sent Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay for Victor Zambrano was devastating to Mets fans for reasons beyond the lopsided nature of the transaction.  A team that had been reluctant to spend money to bring in stars from other organizations …

New faces could push Dodgers to top  —  The Dodgers are hungry.  Missing from the World Series the past 18 years and winning just one playoff game in that time, the Dodgers are more than due.  They're two years from matching the longest drought in their history — they failed to reach the World Series annually from 1921 to 1940.

Mariners bring back Rhodes  —  SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners are giving Arthur Rhodes another chance to help their bullpen, agreeing Thursday to a minor league contract with the 36-year-old reliever.  —  Rhodes had been an effective left-hander out of the bullpen for most of his career …