Reds' Arroyo agrees to 2-year extension through 2010  —  CINCINNATI — Right-hander Bronson Arroyo and the Cincinnati Reds agreed Thursday to a $25 million, two-year contract extension through 2010.  —  Arroyo's previous contract contains $8,075,000 in remaining guaranteed salary: $4,125,000 this year and $3.95 million in 2008.

O's, Patterson agree on one-year deal … The Orioles have agreed to terms today on a one-year deal with Corey Patterson, avoiding salary arbitration with their center fielder, according to a club source.  —  Patterson will make a base salary of $4.3 million in 2007.

Young Marlins swimming in infield talent  —  Hanley Ramirez did a quick, visual reconnaissance of the sold-out crowd at the New York baseball writers annual dinner last week, seemingly overwhelmed by its size (1,500 people) and its passion (Jonathan Papelbon was thickly booed after being introduced).

Pujols scores perfect on citizenship test, takes oath  —  ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols is now a U.S. citizen.  —  The St. Louis Cardinals slugger took the oath of citizenship in a ceremony at the Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis on Wednesday.  The first baseman's wife, Dee Dee …

Citi Field rising in Queens  —  Standing in the middle of a windswept dirt lot, with a wind chill in the teens, it was difficult to imagine David Wright or Jose Reyes occupying this very spot on Opening Day of the 2009 season.  —  But that's the timetable for Citi Field …

Kerry Joins Fans Upset by the Plan for Extra Innings  —  The pending deal to shift Major League Baseball's Extra Innings package exclusively to DirecTV starting in April is still not ready to be announced, but Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, would like to undo it.

White Sox strike while iron is hot  —  Hike prices after fans flock to Cell in '06  —  After winning the 2005 World Series, the White Sox were one of the hottest tickets in the majors in 2006.  —  But it will cost a few dollars more in 2007 to see what could be the Mark Buehrle/Jermaine …

Possible options for A-Rod in '08  —  Brewers general manager Doug Melvin jokes that he's angry at soccer star David Beckham for stopping at a reported $250 million in his new contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.  —  FOX Bite  —  Videos  —  Hardball Report

When Is A Win Not A Win?  —  Improving on MP/MW  —  by Neil deMause  —  It's a fact of life that if you invent a popular statistic, that's what you're going to be remembered for.  Charles Richter is known for his Scale, Virginia Apgar is known for her Score, and just try to tell me that if I say …

Selig unsure whether he will attend games as Bonds chases record  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Barry Bonds might get a telephone call from baseball commissioner Bud Selig instead of a handshake if the San Francisco Giants slugger breaks Hank Aaron's home run record.

Harvey hoping Veterans ballots will finally say, 'Yer in!'  —  Heaven is knock, knock, knockin' on Cooperstown's door.  —  Well, sort of.  You see, the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee ballots are being collected and counted this month, with the results to be announced on Feb. 27, and last time he was up, God missed by only 13 votes.

Light infantry  —  Will paucity of power finally catch up to Dodgers?  —  Southern Californians don't all set out to be different.  Sometimes, it just ends up that way.  —  And so it goes with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who against their fondest desires will again try to generate …

Odds to Win the 2007 World Series  —  Bodog Sportsbook took their best shot in December as to which team will win the 2007 World Series.  But now that the off-season has settled down and pitchers and catchers are due to report in about nine days, they have revised the odds and in a sense are ranking each team's off-season performance.

Veteran arms to keep an eye on  —  Ten pitchers who are all older than 30 and will be pitching in intriguing and crucial circumstances this year:  —  1. Tom Gordon, Philadelphia Phillies  —  There were moments in recent seasons when Gordon would shake his right hand on the mound …

Harold Reynolds's Big Hit  —  Fired announcer's $5 million contract surfaces in ESPN lawsuit  —  While not much has been happening with Harold Reynolds's breach of contract lawsuit against ESPN, the announcer's lawyer has just filed an amended complaint that includes a copy of the former baseball star's contract.

Jeter mood swing  —  Looks to forget past with jump on spring  —  TAMPA - Even on a European vacation last fall, Derek Jeter couldn't get away from the Yankees' postseason loss to Detroit.  —  A few days after the upstart Tigers put away the Yanks, cementing another disappointing October in the Bronx …