Hitch was in his plan  —  Epstein took a wife, left media in dark  —  Theo Epstein is a married man.  —  The Red Sox general manager threw a shutout at the paparazzi, gossip columnists, nosy sportswriters, celebrity bloggers, and any other potential wedding crashers by sneaking off earlier …

Sosa officially signs on, vows to make team  —  ARLINGTON — There are many who question what Sammy Sosa can still contribute to a major league baseball team.  —  Sosa didn't play at all in 2006 after hitting just .221 with 14 homers and 45 RBI in 102 games in an injury-plagued 2005 …

Mussina: Put-up time for Pavano  —  Yankees' elder statesman says, 'He's got to earn some trust from some players again'  —  Mike Mussina pointed out last night that he is now the oldest Yankee, which is one reason the 38-year-old wouldn't mind seeing Roger Clemens, 44, come to the Bronx.

A Time of Rebirth for Church  —  Nats Outfielder: 'This Is the Year I Prove Everybody Wrong'  —  Late this afternoon, after the final workout of his offseason, Ryan Church and his wife will climb into his gray 2006 Range Rover near their home outside Cleveland, point the car south …

Weaver's agent puts the blame on Cardinals  —  The Seattle Mariners officially announced Jeff Weaver is the newest member of their starting rotation Tuesday, barely two weeks after Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had described the free-agent righthander as potentially "the final piece" …

Jays take chance on vet Zambrano  —  Injured starter not expected to challenge in Spring  —  TORONTO — Victor Zambrano had one major need: a team willing to give him some more time.  He is eight months removed from surgery to repair his right elbow and will likely need most of Spring Training to continue his rehabilitation.

Joining China to Find a Yao Who Can Hit  —  Two of the world's most closely watched empires signed a deal here Tuesday.  China wants a half-decent national baseball team.  The Yankees want a toe in the Chinese sports market, and the chance to find — better yet, develop — Major League Baseball's Yao Ming.

Linebrink-Rowand deal off for now  —  The Padres have at least temporarily tabled a trade offer from Philadelphia that would have brought outfielder Aaron Rowand to the Padres for relief pitcher Scott Linebrink.  —  "It might be something we discuss again later this spring," Padres General Manager Kevin Towers said yesterday.

Offseason no day at the beach for Guillen … Boca Chica, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — It was fast approaching lunchtime in this beach town, set off by its reef-protected lagoon of tranquil blue waters and powder-white sand, when Jose Guillen plopped down under an umbrella and began picking …

Average Is as Average Does  —  Before you dig too deeply, "average" seems like such a simple concept.  But like most things, the way we talk about average production in baseball doesn't always correspond to simple arithmetic.  —  Earlier this week, I posted 2006 positional averages on my blog.

Yankee Stadium to host All-Stars in final season  —  NEW YORK — Yankee Stadium is going out with an All-Star salute.  —  As first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, the beloved old ballpark will host the All-Star Game in 2008, the final season before the New York Yankees move …

Odd man out?  —  Williams gets camp invite but no guaranteed deal  —  Bernie Williams' great Yankees career just might end with a soap opera he didn't bargain for.  —  SI.com has learned that the Yankees have made Williams a standing offer to come to spring training as a non-guaranteed, nonroster invite.

Wolf's focus centered on being prepared … LOS ANGELES — The road to spring training is not a highway lined with palm trees.  —  The real road to spring training is long and lonely and (especially) sweaty.  —  When you throw baseballs for a living, the road to spring training begins in early November …