Red Sox acquire right-handed pitcher Wes Littleton from Texas Rangers  —  For two players to be named later or cash considerations  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox today acquired righthanded pitcher Wes Littleton from the Texas Rangers in exchange for two players to be named later or cash considerations.

With Several Bullpen Spots to Fill, Mets Are Making Sure to Explore All Options  —  The Mets remain interested in the free-agent closers Francisco Rodríguez and Brian Fuentes, but they will continue to scour the trade market for relievers before engaging in substantive discussions with either pitcher …

When Maddux says goodbye, he'll do it quietly  —  On the cell from his home in Las Vegas, Greg Maddux sounded as though he probably has made a decision.  But there are more important things in life, like the game of golf he just played with son Chase.  —  “I'll figure it out soon, one way or another,” said dad.

AMAZIN' SURPRISE STAR TATIS BUILDS CHURCH  —  Earlier this week, Fernando Tatis walked into a church in his Dominican Republic hometown of San Pedro de Macoris and gave thanks.  This was not just any church and not just any thanks.  —  This was the Jerusalem First Church …

Pirates plan patience with offseason moves  —  Wilson, Grabow, Paulino discussed in trades; little in free agency  —  The way general manager Neal Huntington sees it, the Pirates' coming winter could be downright tumultuous.  —  Or not.  —  “It could be an offseason where there is a significant change …

A few Thankgiving leftovers - tidbits from a slow off-season  —  It just seems quiet on the baseball front.  Look around hard enough, there's always tidbits.  —  Here are a few of interest.  — Raul Ibanez remains high on the list of at least three playoff-caliber teams, with the Cubs …

King George  —  Every city in the country, I suppose, has its own relationship with New York City — you know, much the same way that every college basketball team in the old ACC had a rivalry with North Carolina.  The City is just omnipresent in American life.

Garcia's shoulder issue might be back  —  Free-agent right-hander reportedly leaves game with soreness  —  Veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia may have hit a speed bump on the comeback trail.  Garcia, a free agent who finished the 2008 season with Detroit, left a game in the Venezuelan Winter League …

Ranking the Yankees, 1-20  —  The Hot Stove season has been uneventful so far and today could be more of the same.  But now that my parents, sister and niece have left NYC, I have some blogging time on my hands.  —  (Just an aside, while standing on Broadway and 39th Street for five hours …

Dodgers complicating Yanks' arbitration decision  —  Updated 10:43 a.m.: Before this week, we all assumed that Andy Pettitte would come back to New York or retire.  Last week's news that Andy and Joe Torre were talking L.A. upset that balance.  —  Today, in the Paper That Must Not Be Named …

Part 2: Five Years Later ... Becoming a Red Sox  —  Just days after the whole process began at Shonda's fundraiser (right), talks with the Red Sox truly heated up.  —  The first day of negotiations saw an exchange of offers, with Larry Lucchino not real excited about my stance at $13 million …

Astros back off on Wolf deal  —  Team won't be able to support payroll of $120 million  —  Astros general manager Ed Wade has informed the agent for free agent pitcher Randy Wolf the club has had to “slow the pace of negotiations” until it can clear up the uncertainty of its payroll situation.