Barber, O's first 20-game winner, dies at 67  —  BALTIMORE — Steve Barber, the first 20-game winner in modern Baltimore Orioles history and the losing pitcher in one of baseball's wildest no-hitters, has died.  He was 67.  —  Barber became ill last week and died from complications …

Chicago Cubs  —  Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel.  All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible.

Helling to retire after 12 seasons  —  FARGO, N.D. — Right-hander Rick Helling says he is retiring from Major League baseball after 12 years, to spend more time with his family.  —  "It's been long enough," Helling told The Forum newspaper on Monday.  "It's time to be a dad."

If They Don't Post It's a Shame  —  A Growing Chorus of Bloggers Chronicles the Nats, Who Are Reading  —  The e-mail popped in, and Chris Needham took a minute to digest it.  The sender was easily identifiable: Stan Kasten is the president of the Washington Nationals …

A Change in Ownership, but Not in Leadership  —  Based on his vast experience with the sale of baseball teams, Steve Greenberg, a managing director at Allen & Company, said of the pending sale of the Atlanta Braves, "It's always optimal to close a baseball sale during the off-season."

Where's the next Verlander?  —  The search is on for this year's Justin Verlander, but good luck trying to find him.  —  FOX Bite  —  Videos  —  Hardball Report  —  Verlander made an enormous impact last season, earning 17 wins, helping the Tigers to the World Series and winning American League Rookie of the Year.

Toby Harrah  —  Nobody ever discusses the most equal trades of all time.  Conversely, the awful trades come up periodically: Jeff Bagwell for Larry Andersen, Nolan Ryan for Jim Fregosi, Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas, Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek for Heathcliff Slocumb, Sparky Lyle for Danny Cater …

Ryan Zimmerman, "The Maximizer"  —  Ryan Zimmerman's RBI totals made a firejoemorgan post.  Turns out Kevin Kennedy thinks that Ryan can "maximize" his HRs.  Here's a dramatization. … Longtime readers of OMG know that Ryan's RBI total was more the product of him leading the league in ABs with RISP than anything else.

Will Bonds Break Hammerin' Hank's Record?  —  It doesn't take a clairvoyant to prophesize that one of the media events of 2007 is the likely celebration/opprobrium when, or if, Barry Bonds clubs home runs numbers 755 and 756 out of the yard.  —  But is such a celebration likely to happen?

Yanks' Posada can be free agent after 2007  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Jorge Posada is focused on the season as he heads into the final year of his contract with the New York Yankees.  —  Posada will make $12 million in 2007, the final season of a deal paying him $59 million over six years.

Former Cardinals pitcher Lanier dies at 91  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  DUNELLON, Fla. — Max Lanier, who pitched in three consecutive World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals during World War II, has died.  He was 91.  —  He died last Tuesday and was buried with a Cardinals cap last weekend …

Guardado, Reds agree to minor league contract  —  CINCINNATI — Cincinnati relief pitcher Eddie Guardado, recovering from surgery on his throwing arm, agreed to a minor league contract, the Reds said Monday.  —  The 36-year-old Guardado was invited to the Reds' major league training camp.