Source: Silva, Mariners agree to deal  —  The Mariners and free agent right-hander Carlos Silva have reached agreement on a multiyear contract, according to an American League source, and the deal could be finalized as early as Thursday, pending the outcome of a physical.

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.

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.

Our Champions  —  John Thorn is a contributing writer for The Business of Sports Network  —  It is now one week since the release of the Mitchell Report, culminating a 20-month, $20 million investigation (into secondary sources, largely ... how on earth was so much spent?) …

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.

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.

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 …

Not Sandy!  —  Reader JS wrote in: “Sandy Koufax did steroids.  He was given them by the Dodgers doctors, it's in Jane Leavy's book.  It wasn't legal.  That was forty years ago.  I don't have any idea what Mickey Mantle was on.  People are flawed.  Baseball is imperfect.”

Rox talk to Giles about second base  —  Club discusses bringing in former All-Star to compete for job  —  DENVER — The Rockies have approached former All-Star Marcus Giles about competing for their opening at second base.  —  The Rockies are prepared to see if one of their in-house candidates …

Mitchell Report doesn't affect Major League Baseball's credit rating  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The Mitchell Report had no effect on Major League Baseball's credit rating.  —  Fitch Ratings said Wednesday that it was affirming the “A” rating it assigned to the Major League Baseball Trust …

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.