Prior to pitch close to home, agrees with Padres … Mark Prior, cut loose by the Cubs earlier this month, has agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres.  —  An announcement is expected to come sometime Wednesday.  —  Prior, 27, last pitched in the big leagues in 2006, and had shoulder surgery in April of 2007.

Clemens, lawyers launch probe of Mitchell Report  —  NEW YORK — Roger Clemens' lawyers are investigating accusations in the Mitchell Report that say the star pitcher used steroids and human growth hormone.  —  Clemens was the biggest name in this month's report by former Senate majority …

Santana smatterings  —  The Twins checked in with the Red Sox, Yankees and Mets just before everyone split for the holidays but nothing major appears to be heating up.  —  Yes, you just read the word Mets.  Indications are that the Mets remain a viable destination for ace Johan Santana …

Debate: Is Mark McGwire a Hall of Famer? … The deadline for baseball's Hall of Fame voters to submit their 2008 ballots is Dec. 31, and once again they must consider the candidacy of Mark McGwire.  In his first year of eligibility a year ago, Big Mac garnered only 23.5 percent of the vote …

This is Rice's year  —  Planets seem to be aligning for Rice's election to the Hall  —  This is Jim Rice's 14th appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot.  He only gets one more audition before he's turned over to the veterans committee.  But he won't need year No. 15, or the smoke-filled room of the old-timers' group.

Anderson has Hall supporter in Ripken  —  Orioles star lands on ballot one year after legend is inducted  —  BALTIMORE — Perhaps it's fitting that Brady Anderson goes on the Hall of Fame ballot one year after one of his closest friends, Cal Ripken Jr., achieved baseball's greatest honor.

$23.88 Million Tax?  That's Life, Not Luxury, for Yankees  —  The problem with doing business on the Yankees' lofty economic level is the cost of doing business.  —  This past season, the Yankees signed Roger Clemens to pitch for them for 60 percent of the season, and it cost them just under $25 million …

A Detailed Look: Drug Suspensions in MLB's Testing Era  —  It's been a mind-numbing experience...  Since the Mitchell Report was released (and really, before that), I decided it might be interesting to look at all suspensions that have been doled out in what I am deeming to be the “Testing Era” …

Mets' hopes dashed in one fell swoop  —  Year with so much promise comes to an unceremonious end  —  NEW YORK — Perhaps hindsight isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Not 20-20 certainly, maybe it's 27-27.  When the Mets looked back at the All-Star break, that's what they saw.

Can Mike Mussina be league-average?  —  While the 2007 Yankees made the playoffs with a half-season contributions from plenty of key pieces, a lot of fans seem to doubt their 2008 prospects.  True, they will be relying on a bunch of rookies, but they got them to the playoffs in 2007.