Big-name deals have much going against them  —  The Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox, who spent two months working on a trade involving Rockies' high-salaried first baseman Todd Helton that went nowhere, became the latest to learn the ugly truth: Trade talks involving players with huge contracts …

Kearns, Washington agree to three-year contract  —  WASHINGTON — It was all a tad overwhelming for Austin Kearns when he was dealt to the Washington Nationals by the Cincinnati Reds last season.  —  He'd never been traded.  He went from a team near his Kentucky hometown to one on the East Coast.

Curt answers given  —  Schill and Me.  Like Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.  Like Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump.  —  Cheap shots have flown back and forth.  Immaturity has ruled.  So many insults.  So little time.  —  And now that the Big Lug is back in the news again …

New Pirates 1B LaRoche wouldn't mind pitching  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates traded for first baseman Adam LaRoche to raise opposing pitchers' ERAs, not lower that of their own pitching staff.  —  Still, deep down inside the man who figures to be the Pirates' cleanup hitter is a pitcher waiting to make his major league debut.

Matheny retires after concussion symptoms don't improve  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mike Matheny's decision to retire was made for him.  His doctor refused to clear the longtime catcher to play in 2007 after a concussion sidelined him for the final four months of last season.

The Class of '08  —  Each offseason, every major league team decides who to target in free agency and how aggressively it should build its club for the following season.  One of the oft-forgotten parts of that process is considering the strength of the following year's free-agent pool.

AL East in Far East  —  Yankees, Red Sox take their rivalry to Japan  —  TOKYO (AP) — The New York Yankees hope to introduce a whole new set of fans to their rivalry with the Boston Red Sox.  —  And with Daisuke Matsuzaka now pitching for the Red Sox, playing against Hideki Matsui and Kei Igawa …

Armas, Pirates agree to one-year contract  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates ended their long search for a right-handed starter Thursday, agreeing to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with Tony Armas Jr.  —  Armas gets $3 million this year …

Orioles, Roberts Close on Contract  —  The Baltimore Orioles are close to signing second baseman Brian Roberts to a one-year, $4.2 million contract, thereby avoiding arbitration, according to one source close to the negotiations.  The move could be finalized today, though the Orioles did not wish to comment directly on the deal.

Offseason turns into new season for Rockies  —  Rockies go heavy on weightlifting, core strengthening  —  On this cold, snowy winter morning, the smell of fresh-cut grass and the warmth of Tucson's desert sun seem a million miles away.  —  But in the bowels of Coors Field …

Phils, Myers agree to $25.75M, three-year deal  —  PHILADELPHIA — Right-hander Brett Myers agreed to a $25.75 million, three-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.  —  A former first-round pick, Myers has won at least 11 games each of the past four seasons.

Astros would be wise to sign Trachsel  —  The Astros are short two starting pitchers, one if Roger Clemens returns, which is hardly a sure thing.  —  What, pray tell, are they doing about it?  —  Very little.  —  That's right, the same team that awarded future DH Carlos Lee $100 million …

Caribbean Series ready to go  —  Puerto Rico hosts tournament, won last year by Venezuela  —  It's the series before the Series, and the first large gathering of Major League players on a playing field before the start of Spring Training and one of the most anticipated events of the winter.

Bernie likely to make minor concession  —  Bernie Williams is leaning toward accepting the Yankees' offer of a minor-league contract, two people familiar with the situation told Newsday Thursday.  —  The 38-year-old, ultra-popular outfielder is aware that he'll be a long shot to make the 2007 Yankees, the sources said.

Getting down to business  —  Matsuzaka begins preparing for camp  —  NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — In any other year, Daisuke Matsuzaka would have been back in Japan, where spring training camps opened yesterday.  —  Instead, he was here, in the ultramodern offices of his agent, Scott Boras …