Angels could make run at Santana  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Angels' trade for Jon Garland and signing of Torii Hunter both were stunners.  The acquisition of Johan Santana would qualify as an even bigger surprise.  —  The team's payroll currently is $123 million, according to a club source.

Orioles, Bedard stall on contract  —  Talks on extension cool, but aren't over  —  Contract extension talks between the Orioles and Erik Bedard stalled yesterday, increasing the likelihood that team officials will spend part of next week's winter meetings contemplating trade offers for the ace left-hander.

Report: Astros beat Cubs to Matsui  —  Did the Houston Astros steal a free agent away from the Cubs or save the Cubs from themselves?  —  That question apparently will be answered over the next three years.  The Astros reportedly have agreed with free-agent second baseman Kaz Matsui on a three-year contract worth $15 million.

Rowand keeping options open  —  Chicago cult hero waiting for free-agent market to play out  —  LAS VEGAS — You can take Aaron Rowand out of Chicago but you can't take Chicago out of Aaron Rowand.  —  Sitting in a Las Vegas resort over lunch Wednesday, Rowand came dressed …

Deals in place for key cogs in playoff run  —  Torrealba, Herges OK deals with Colorado  —  Catcher Yorvit Torrealba and reliever Matt Herges have reached contract agreements with the Rockies and returned to Denver on Wednesday for physicals, multiple sources told The Denver Post.

Source: Reliever Riske close to agreeing to multiyear deal with Brewers … David Riske, the veteran relief pitcher who compiled a 2.45 ERA in 65 games for the Kansas City Royals last season, is on the verge of agreeing to a multiyear deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a club source.

It's Not About Money in Pettitte Wait  —  Seven weeks after Andy Pettitte's season ended with the Yankees, he is no closer to deciding if he will return and pitch for them again next season.  Tom Pettitte, Andy's father, said yesterday that Pettitte has not determined if he will retire …

New voting format gives Herzog another shot at Hall  —  Whitey Herzog is getting another shot at the Baseball Hall of Fame.  —  Herzog, 76, who directed the Cardinals to three National League championships and one World Series title in a six-season span in the 1980s, came up well short …

Hot stove philosophies align regardless of payroll  —  Not too long ago, Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane could count on his peers to make him look smart.  An entire book was written about Beane's brilliance at attacking market inefficiencies while his brethren waltzed with tradition …

Brewers Rumors: Rolen, Andruw, Mench  —  MLB.com's Adam McCalvy posted a Brewers article yesterday that's worthy of discussion.  — One reliever Doug Melvin has considered that I hadn't heard before: Eddie Guardado.  Hey, at least he'd come cheap.  — Players like Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, and Corey Hart won't be moved.

Trading a superstar isn't the easiest thing to do … It isn't often, here at International Rumblings Headquarters, that we launch our very own reality show.  But we've done it this week, in a spectacular, one-week-only blitz of inspiration that we're calling:  —  "So You Think You Can Be a GM.

Yabuta signs two-year deal with Royals  —  Japanese reliever should help solidify back end of bullpen  —  KANSAS CITY — Now the Royals will have at least two imports from the Japan League next season.  —  Relief pitcher Yasuhiko Yabuta passed a physical examination in Kansas City …

Rays, Percival near 2-year, $8M deal  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 28 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  Six months ago, Troy Percival was out of baseball.  —  Now, he is on the verge of signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the Rays, according to major-league sources.

Could MLB Get a Pass on the Mitchell Report?  —  With the end of November upon us, the much anticipated Mitchell Report on performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball will be released shortly.  Sources with the Mitchell investigation have confirmed that the report will be released …

Vote the Rock  —  Tim Raines is worthiest name on new HOF ballot  —  The Baseball Writers Association of America's 2008 Hall of Fame ballot was announced on Monday.  No one on the ballot has any of the three magic numbers which virtually guarantee enshrinement — 3,000 hits …