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."

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 …

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 …

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.

Nationals preseason preview  —  With new ballpark opening in '08, Washington looks into the future  —  Yes, there still is a major league baseball team that plays in Washington DC.  —  Sure, no one outside the nation's capital save for the assorted fantasy geeks can name more than a handful of its players.

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.

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.

MATIER AND ROSS  —  Will global warming swamp new stadium?  —  Everyone figures that nightmarish traffic jams are the worst problem the Oakland A's will face if they move to the bayfront wilds of Fremont.  But their biggest challenge may be something they hadn't thought of — global warming.

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 …

Hall, Brewers agree to four-year, $24M deal  —  MILWAUKEE — Bill Hall and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed Monday to a $24 million, four year contract.  —  Hall, who is slated to play center field for the Brewers, gets a $500,000 signing bonus, $3 million this year, $4.8 million in 2008, $6.8 million in 2009 and $8.4 million in 2010.

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 …