Silva signing could be announced by Thursday  —  When you look at Carlos Silva, you see a young veteran who has one of the best sinkers in the game.  —  Because of that, he gets lots of ground ball outs.  How good a fit would that be in Safeco Field, a place that better accommodates fly ball pitchers?

One players take on the Mitchell Report, Canseco, Clemens, records, looking back or going forward....  Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Andy Petite, Todd Pratt, Gary Bennett, Paul Byrd, Dave Justice, Fernando Vina, Alex Cabrera, Brian Roberts, Lenny Dykstra, and many more.

Lefty Mahay, Royals reach two-year deal  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Kansas City Royals, fortifying their bullpen, have reached preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Ron Mahay on a two-year, $8 million contract, according to major-league sources.

Padres would be logical choice for Prior  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  Logic dictates that the Padres are Mark Prior's first choice.  Not only is he from San Diego, but he also might thrive by staying in the National League and pitching at spacious Petco Park.

Keeping up with AL heavyweights impractical for most … We can sum up the difference between the National League and the American League these days with one little winter meetings anecdote.  —  We were speaking with a high-ranking official of an NL contender.

Pirates fall short in bidding for free agent Durbin  —  The Pirates keep coming up second.  —  Their bid for free-agent starter Chad Durbin, formerly of the Detroit Tigers, was turned down in favor of one made by the Philadelphia Phillies, a source disclosed today.  The Pirates and Phillies were the two finalists.

The fallout continues  —  Clemens among big losers; redemption for Duquette  —  Roger Clemens' denials are getting louder and somehow less convincing as he attempts to extricate himself from the steroid allegations made against him in the bombshell, worth-every-penny Mitchell Report …

A-Rod to open education center  —  Facility named for Yankees star to be in hometown of Miami  —  MIAMI — Alex Rodriguez has long had a field named after him at the Southwest Miami Boys & Girls Club, where he learned the game as a youth.  By early next baseball season …

Mets add to bullpen with Wise  —  The Mets added to their bullpen by signing righthander Matt Wise to a one-year, $1.2 million contract on Tuesday.  (AP File Photo)  —  The Mets, in an effort to add depth to their beleaguered bullpen, signed free-agent righthander Matt Wise to a one-year, $1.2-million contract yesterday.

Giants take look at pitcher Benson  —  (12-18) 21:24 PST — As the Giants continue their search for a third baseman and middle-of-the-order hitter, they are not closing their eyes to other spots on the diamond.  —  Ron Schueler, one of general manager Brian Sabean's new senior advisers …

Charley Walters: Boston Red Sox still in lead for Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana  —  The Boston Red Sox remain the favorite to acquire Johan Santana from the Twins, insiders say.  —  Boston remains firm, though, as initially reported by the Pioneer Press, in offering just Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson.

George Mitchell's Drugs of Choice  —  The Mitchell Report on steroids is shaking the baseball world from cap to cleats.  It names 86 players, and calls for a vast reformation of what is being called “the steroid era” in Major League Baseball.  The 20-month, $20 million investigation has been accepted as gospel by the hoi polloi.

Bud Selig's Successful Testing Program  —  Bud Selig is right.  The drug testing program in Major League Baseball is second to none.  I'll include not only the other major American professional sports, but all sports.  Pro or amateur, US or foreign, MLB has it right.

New Marlins stadium clears significant hurdle  —  Deal for ballpark still needs to pass Florida Legislature  —  MIAMI (AP) — Miami-Dade County commissioners Tuesday approved a public works project that includes a new stadium for the Florida Marlins.  —  The ballpark would be built on the site of the Orange Bowl.