Helton seeks quick deal  —  Rockies first baseman Todd Helton said Saturday he would consider approving a trade to the Boston Red Sox, but wants a quick resolution to avoid a stream of distractions.  —  Helton was asked Saturday night whether he has provided the Rockies a deadline or …

Who's sorry now?  Williams  —  White Sox GM says he has been too blunt, apologizes to Buehrle  —  Ken Williams admits he has a problem because he is too blunt.  —  The White Sox general manager apologized Saturday to Mark Buehrle and Buehrle's parents during a 30-minute conversation …

Bing Devine: 1916-2007  —  Vaughn Pallmore "Bing'' Devine was a collector's item among sports executives.  —  Not because his career spanned almost 70 years, most with his beloved Cardinals, from his start as an office boy in 1939 to his death Saturday (Jan. 27, 2007) at age 90, still employed as the team's special assignment scout.

Spring forward  —  Willie gets early start as Bernie ponders the end  —  With pitchers and catchers barely two weeks away, some thoughts and observations on Willie Randolph, who will be arriving early to spring training to begin sorting out his pitching, and Bernie Williams, who, it appears, may not be arriving at all.

The Royals caravan runs on fans' hope  —  This is the third year of the Royals caravan column, which means by baseball standards this thing is now a full-fledged tradition.  Three years is a long time with the Royals.  Heck, Tony Peña didn't last three years.

Under radar for no good reason  —  Reds' Harang, others deserve a closer look  —  Quick now.  Who led the National League in complete games last year?  —  We'll give you a hint.  He was the same guy who led the NL in strikeouts.  He had six complete games out of 35 starts and went 16-11 with a 3.76 earned-run average.

Kazmir insists shoulder is fine … ST. PETERSBURG - If your biggest concern about the upcoming season is the state of Scott Kazmir's left shoulder, the just-turned 23-year-old ace says there is nothing to worry about.  —  "Not at all," he said.  "I don't even see that as a question."

Pirates management discusses team  —  PirateFest lets for fans ask Bucs executives hard questions  —  PITTSBURGH — From players brought in (Adam LaRoche) to players not (Jeff Weaver), from who'll play second base (it may not be the guy who started 145 games there last year) …

Super Bowl has nothing on these red-hot topics  —  Not to demean the NFL, but in baseball Indianapolis is home to the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate.  Chicago is home to, well, the Cubs.  —  The Super Bowl TV audience dwarfs even that of American Idol, but so what?

Santana vows to avoid Twin distractions of pressure and pay  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — By winning his second AL Cy Young Award in three years, Johan Santana set himself up for a big payday when his contract expires after the 2008 season.  —  While the Minnesota Twins ponder the possibility …

Stars are on ball at autograph show … In a private room at one end of the 300 level of the Baltimore Convention Center, four Hall of Famers sat at separate tables, signing baseballs, bats, jerseys and helmets that later would be shipped as pre-orders and sold.

Rangers' Otsuka is OK with old role  —  Rangers' former closer willingly returns to pitch in eighth inning  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  For a few minutes Friday evening, Akinori Otsuka awkwardly searched for words to describe his new role as the Rangers set-up man to Eric Gagne.