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 …

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.

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.

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."

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.

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 …

After Yankee pitcher's death, U.S. plans to make permanent NYC flight restrictions  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Flight restrictions imposed around Manhattan after New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle crashed his single-engine plane into an apartment tower will be made permanent, government documents indicate.

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 …

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?

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.