Rox agree to ship Vizcaino to Cubs for Marquis  —  The Rockies are going to swap a relief bust for rotation depth.  —  The Rockies and Cubs have agreed in principle on a deal that would send Luis Vizcaino to Chicago for starter Jason Marquis, according to multiple baseball sources.

Mets Offer Lowe a 3-Year Deal  —  The Mets have offered the free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe a three-year contract for about $36 million, according to people who have been briefed on the discussions.  —  As the Mets try to add another starter, they have concentrated on Lowe, 35, as their No. 1 option over Oliver Pérez.

Jays invite 3 more to Spring camp  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Michael Barrett, Raul Chavez, Randy Ruiz and pitcher Mike Maroth to minor league contracts and extended invitations for all to attend spring training with the Major League club.  —  Barrett, 32, has signed …

Source: Snyder agrees to deal … The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached preliminary agreement on a three-year, $14.25 million guaranteed contract extension with catcher Chris Snyder, a baseball source told ESPN.com.  —  The deal, the completion of which is pending the physical exam …

Salary cap?  Tell me you didn't say that, Drayton  —  Drayton McLane looks pretty darn silly to suggest baseball would be better off with a salary cap.  —  First, baseball has done pretty well without one.  Drayton presumably knows this.  —  (I've written brilliant columns on this topic.

New-look Mets  —  Yosef Sebrow sends in this look at what appears to be modest tweaks to the black uniforms the Mets wear, which he shot at a Sports Authority in Forest Hills.  It's labeled “METH,” presumably for Mets' home.  He writes: “The old one was black, orange dropshadow, then white, then blue.

Hot Stove Daily: Texas Rangers  —  Buzz up! … 2008 record: 79-83  —  Finish: Second in American League West  —  2008 opening-day payroll: $67.7 million  —  2009 estimated opening-day payroll: Between $62 million and $72 million  —  OFFSEASON ACTION

More on Bard  —  In case you're wondering, a source has confirmed an agreement between the Red Sox and catcher Josh Bard, whom the club eyes as a backup, perhaps to Jason Varitek.  The Bard acquisition in no way eliminates the chance of Varitek returning to the club in 2009.

BoSox interested in trading for Marlins' Ramirez … The Red Sox made a play to re-acquire Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez after losing out to the rival Yankees for star free agent Mark Teixeira, league sources tell SI.com.  But while the Marlins listened to Boston's overtures …

Minor League Transactions  —  This week's installment considers all transactions reported by MLB between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23.  The previous installment is available here.  —  Atlanta Braves  —  Released: RHP Eligio Lagua, RHP Eliezer Murillo, RHP Matt Timms, LHP Tim Ladd, LHP T.J. Wohlever, OF Mike Elkerson, OF Chad Maddox

Through the Years: Jim Rice  —  Was Jim Rice truly “feared” in his time?  —  In recent years, it has become very much in vogue to discuss the merits of Jim Rice's candidacy for the Hall of Fame.  Similar to Jack Morris, proponents of Rice's candidacy cite two key areas as their basis for support …