Rockies end talks to trade Helton  —  Red Sox won't give up a top prospect, ending trade talks  —  Todd Helton dropped by Coors Field on Monday and went through his normal winter workout with several other Rockies players.  —  Nothing had changed for Helton.  —  "Just a normal day," he said.

Bonds will be lonely man in San Francisco  —  Sing along with Barry ...  Congratulations to Akon, the Senegalese hip-hop star.  His reprise of the old Bobby Vinton hit, Mr. Lonely, should be the official theme song of Bonds' countdown to 755.  —  What, no posse?  Say it ain't so!  —  Those mean Giants.

Mariners sign RHP Weaver to one-year contract  —  SEATTLE (Ticker) - After winning a World Series ring in the National League, Jeff Weaver has decided to move back to the American League.  —  The Seattle Mariners on Monday announced that they have have agreed to terms with the free-agent righthander on a one-year contract.

Art Fowler, 84, Who Coached for Yankees Again and Again, Is Dead  —  Art Fowler, who became George Steinbrenner's sixth, ninth, 17th and 26th Yankees pitching coach in a turbulent baseball pairing with his often hired and fired manager and drinking buddy Billy Martin, died yesterday in Spartanburg, S.C. He was 84.

Pitchers Sanchez, Johnson slowed by sore arms  —  Two of the five members of the Marlins' starting rotation, right-handers Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez, are dealing with throwing arm injuries that could put a crimp in their spring training plans.  —  Though the injuries aren't considered serious …

Yankees to help build interest in baseball in China  —  BEIJING — The New York Yankees agreed Tuesday to send coaches, scouts and trainers to China to help boost interest in baseball, furthering a push by the major leagues into one of the world's fastest-growing sports markets.

Wilkerson working toward better season  —  Wilkerson put Rangers above all else, even his Gators, this off-season  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  The celebratory confetti was still fluttering from the Georgia Dome roof when Brad Wilkerson, a proud Florida Gator, sprung into action.

An Effort to Get More Fans to Meet the Mets  —  For more than an hour, five of the Mets' better-known players had been posing for photographs, signing autographs, shaking hands and exchanging high-fives, when Judi Millar made a slightly less common request of Tom Glavine.

Orioles claim pitcher Guthrie off waivers from Indians  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles claimed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie off waivers from the Cleveland Indians on Monday and added the right-hander to their 40-man roster.  —  The 27-year-old Guthrie had a 6.98 ERA in nine games with Cleveland last year.

Williams stocks Sox's pen with Cell-friendly power arms  —  No more gimmick pitches or attempts to trick team officials or trainers.  —  In a span of two years, the White Sox's bullpen has undergone a dramatic transformation that borders on an in-your-face, hard-throwing style similar …

Nats Are Cold, Stadium Is Mostly Empty  —  Ha ha.  Just joking, Nats persons.  We all know you're undefeated this year.  —  Anyhow, a media contingent 20-strong gathered outside the Nats' glittering new stadium this afternoon, and by "glittering" I mean "muddy."

Mailbag: What's on Nats' to-do list?  —  Nationals beat reporter Bill Ladson answers fans' questions  —  Do you think the Nationals will make a trade before the 2007 season starts?  — Matt S., McLean, Va.  —  I don't put anything past general manager Jim Bowden.

Zimmerman Remains Upbeat About Lineup  —  While Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was on his way to driving in 110 runs as a rookie last season, there was one constant.  Leadoff man Alfonso Soriano, enjoying a season in which he became just the fourth player to hit 40 homers …

NL West loaded with strong arms  —  Brian from California: Zito's in San Fran; Schmidt's in L.A. ...  ? … Everyone else in the NL West has stocked up on pitching with Barry Zito in San Francisco, Jason Schmidt in L.A., Greg Maddux in San Diego and now Randy Johnson in Arizona.  What do the Rox have?