Rockies launch talks on Helton  —  Red Sox explore deal for veteran  —  The Rockies are in discussions with the Boston Red Sox involving a trade of Todd Helton, according to multiple baseball sources.  —  Nothing is imminent, but negotiations are expected to resume Monday or Tuesday …

Buehrle, others talk money at SoxFest  —  White Sox have decisions to make about future free agents  —  CHICAGO — The question was asked of Mark Buehrle maybe once, maybe twice, maybe even a handful of times.  —  Well, in reality, it probably was asked about 15 or 20 times of Buehrle …

Pirates re-introduce red to uniforms  —  Bucs unveil new alternative home jerseys for 2007 season  —  PITTSBURGH — There's an initiative from the Mayor's office here to clean up the city called, "Let's Redd Up Pittsburgh."  —  To Redd up, for those not familiar with Pittsburghese …

Weaver agrees on deal with Mariners  —  A World Series ring, a restructured one-year contract and his former manager's personal touch were not enough to keep Jeff Weaver in St. Louis.  —  The righthander accepted a more lucrative offer Friday from the rebuilding Seattle Mariners, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Braves have build a better back end  —  Back in the dying days of September, with his Braves uncharacteristically playing out the string with no hope of making the postseason, Bobby Cox was asked how the franchise would get back on track.  —  The ever-optimistic manager …

Weakest links  —  The Cubs spent somewhere around $300 million in the past few months to overhaul the disaster of '06, and they're still wondering about that big expanse of grass in center field.  The Giants, if you count that $16 million earmarked for Barry Bonds, have forked over better …

Roberson shines in winter ball playoffs  —  Outfielder leads postseason participants in runs scored with 16  —  Chris Roberson certainly has his work cut out for him in Spring Training this year, since he will be competing with Karim Garcia, Greg Dobbs, Chris Coste and Michael Bourn …

Ryan hospitalized; son says he's in good condition  —  ROUND ROCK, Texas - Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was hospitalized Friday, but his son Reid said it was not an emergency and he is good condition.  —  Nolan Ryan, 59, checked into Round Rock Medical Center for treatment of recurring symptoms …

Ripken, Gwynn promote Aspire Gala  —  Annual event supports Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation  —  BALTIMORE — Sometime soon, they'll share the stage again.  Recent Hall of Fame electees Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn brought Cooperstown to the Baltimore Convention Center on Friday …

Garcia signs minor-league Phils contract  —  Much-traveled outfielder Karim Garcia, who has played for seven other major-league teams, signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies yesterday.  —  The three-time minor-league all-star has been invited to spring training.

Delegation to visit Ghana to promote baseball  —  NEW YORK — New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya will be among a delegation of baseball officials going to Accra, Ghana, next week to hold a clinic and promote baseball.  —  Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, former San Francisco …

Cubs only have a decent shot to win NL Central  —  How much do faith and hope cost on the North Side of Chicago?  —  A plausible guess might be $300 million.  This winter, the Cubs, after the recent signing of outfielder Cliff Floyd to a one-year, $3-million pact, have spent …