Trying to make sense of Teixeira dealings  —  It has been suggested that the best way to decipher the Red Sox-Mark Teixeira negotiations is to pull out your old turntable, put on “Revolution 9” from the Beatles' “White Album” and play it backward.  Then you will know what's been offered and what's been requested.

Nats, Cabrera agree to one-year deal  —  Right-hander to be newest member of Washington's rotation  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals and right-hander Daniel Cabrera have agreed to a one-year contract, pending a physical, according to three baseball sources.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Former major league pitcher Dock Ellis dies  —  Dock Ellis, the former major league pitcher best remembered for his flamboyance and social activism as a member of the great Pittsburgh Pirates teams of the 1970s, died Friday of a liver ailment in California, his former agent, Tom Reich, confirmed.

Giambi could return to the Bay in 2009  —  Slugger's agent reportedly speaking with Oakland GM  —  Free agent designated hitter Jason Giambi could be headed back to Oakland after a seven-year stint with the Yankees.  —  According to a San Francisco Chronicle report published on Saturday …

Jays Listening On Wells  —  By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 20 at 8:58am CST]  —  Jon Heyman has heard that the Blue Jays “have fielded a few trade inquiries” about Vernon Wells, though they are not shopping him.  Wells has six years and over $100MM remaining on his contract.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim win case to keep name  —  State appellate court rules in favor of the team in suit brought by Anaheim.  City is not expected to appeal to state Supreme Court.  —  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim can keep their name after all.

Clayton Kershaw: The lost interview  —  Okay, not so much lost, but forgotten for about ten days or so.  I sat down with Kershaw early last week when the Dodgers had some of their young 'uns working out at the Ravine.  Fortunately, the interview is, as they say in journalism parlance, evergreen.

Baseball Hall of Fame Needs to Change 5 Percent Rule  —  Hall of Fame voters are a fickle bunch.  Neither Jim Rice nor Bert Blyleven has done anything to bolster his candidacy for enshrinement in Cooperstown since retiring.  Yet their shares of the vote have increased to 72.2 percent …

DAMON USES RECRUITING ACUMEN TO HELP BUILD A CHAMPION  —  Johnny Damon made recruiting calls to A.J. Burnett.  His wife, Michelle, helped out in the CC Sabathia chase by texting CC's wife, Amber, answering questions so that the Northern California-based Sabathia family could feel at home in New York.