Beinfest has major holes left to fill  —  HOLLYWOOD — After the rookie-laden Marlins surprised the baseball world with 78 wins in 2006, the front office hoped to spend the off-season adding players who could make the team into a playoff contender in 2007.  —  But with spring training 10 days away …

Book on Rodriguez: Expect misfortune  —  If he didn't have that quarter-of-a-billion-dollar contract, that gorgeous wife, that precious 2-year-old daughter and the head of Ricky Martin grafted onto the body of Arnold Schwarzenegger, you might be tempted to believe that Alex Rodriguez just doesn't have any luck at all.

Harang gets four-year, $36.5M deal from Reds  —  CINCINNATI — Right-hander Aaron Harang agreed to a four-year, $36.5 million deal Tuesday, making him the Cincinnati Reds' highest-paid pitcher.  —  The 28-year-old Harang emerged as one of the NL's top starters last season despite pitching …

Mays agrees to minor league contract with Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joe Mays, a 17-game winner for the Minnesota Twins in 2001, agreed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday and will attend spring training as a non-roster invitee.

Liverpool chase the American dream  —  Liverpool's new American owners have thrown down the gauntlet to Manchester United and Chelsea by promising to make the club the biggest and best in the world.  —  Tom Hicks and George Gillett laid out their vision for a bright Red future …

Papelbon not medically cleared to close games  —  BOSTON — Terry Francona doesn't expect Jonathan Papelbon to move back into the bullpen, even though it would make the Boston manager's life easier.  —  "If I had my druthers, he would be our closer," Francona said Tuesday …

MLB would like to cream Bonds, not clear him  —  Many wish Bonds would just disappear from baseball  —  The truth, quite simply, is that nobody really wants him.  Not his bosses.  Not his teammates.  And certainly not the powers entrusted with the care of our national pastime.

Rangers, Chen agree to minor league deal  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Left-hander Bruce Chen agreed to a minor league contract Tuesday with the Texas Rangers and will go to spring training with the chance to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.  —  Chen was -7 with a 6.93 ERA in 12 starts …

Lew Burdette dead at 80  —  Ex-Braves right-hander went 3-0 in '57 World Series  —  WINTER GARDEN, Fla. (AP) — Lew Burdette, MVP of the 1957 World Series when he pitched the Milwaukee Braves to their only championship, died Tuesday.  He was 80.  —  Burdette had been ill for an extended period with lung cancer.

Izzy seems right on schedule  —  JUPITER, Fla. — Cardinals pitchers and catchers aren't due to report for another week, but the first significant pitch of the spring may have been thrown Tuesday behind Roger Dean Stadium.  —  Climbing a mound for the first time since having hip surgery Sept. 21 …

The man behind the numbers  —  Former math professor creates statistics uber-site  —  If you're a baseball fan at all and you can find your way onto the Internet, you know Baseball-Reference.com.  It's the one-stop shop for baseball statistics, an ever-growing repository of data that is truly staggering in depth and breadth.

Boras pulls his Sox on: Super agent's bond with Hub club grows stronger  —  NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — On the wall-panel controls for the five flat-screen TV's in the conference room of the Boras Corporation, NESN is one of the prominent pre-set buttons that an employee, or Scott Boras himself, can push.

D-Backs, Byrnes agree to deal  —  PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks and outfielder Eric Byrnes agreed to a $4,575,000, one-year contract Tuesday, avoiding arbitration.  —  Byrnes was the last Arizona player in arbitration.  A hearing had been scheduled for Feb. 15.

D.R. wins fifth straight, clinches title  —  Dominicans clinch Caribbean title with win, P.R. loss  —  CAROLINA, P.R. — Their red, white and blue uniforms read "Dominicano Soy," Spanish for "I am Dominican," but there is one word missing from the jerseys.  —  Campeon, the Spanish word for champion.