Archrivals lead hunt for Manny … Well known for bold free-agent signings and boosted by a solid financial situation, the San Francisco Giants look like a major threat to steal superstar free agent slugger Manny Ramirez away from the archrival Dodgers.  —  While the Dodgers …

Mets on verge of signing Tim Redding  —  The Mets and right-handed starter Tim Redding are on the verge of completing a one-year agreement for about 2.5 million dollars that would bring Redding aboard for the 2009 season, Newsday has learned.  —  One person familiar with the negotiations described the process as “in the home stretch.”

Bloomquist will compete with Callaspo  —  Royals give former Mariners infielder/outfielder two-year deal  —  KANSAS CITY — The Royals and infielder Willie Bloomquist have reached an agreement on a two-year contract, MLB.com learned on Friday.  —  Bloomquist is expected to compete …

Swisher the Yanks' preferred candidate over Nady  —  In their current roster logjam, the Yankees would strongly prefer to trade Xavier Nady and retain Nick Swisher, a person familiar with the club's thinking said yesterday.  —  General manager Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than for Nady.

Putz to join Wright on Team USA roster  —  Six other Mets to take part in second World Baseball Classic  —  NEW YORK — Despite their presence throughout the inaugural World Baseball Classic, the Mets were underrepresented on the roster of Team USA.  Nineteen players within …

O's bring back utility infielder Gomez  —  Veteran agrees to minor league deal, gets invite to spring training  —  The Orioles have agreed to a minor league deal with utility infielder Chris Gomez, bringing the veteran back to the organization after a year's absence.

Mark Kotsay set to re-sign  —  After adding one role player yesterday by signing outfielder Rocco Baldelli to a one-year, $500,000 deal with incentives, the Red Sox [team stats] are poised to add another soon.  —  Mark Kotsay, whom the Sox obtained from Atlanta last August …

Cubs put their trust in Bradley  —  $30M outfielder insists troubles are thing of past  —  After two months of courting and waiting and making the finances work, the Cubs finally introduced Milton Bradley as their new right fielder Thursday.  —  And depending on which side of the optimism fence …

Pavano finds right fit with Indians  —  Right-hander has plenty of motivation after New York experience  —  CLEVELAND — Carl Pavano's four seasons with the Yankees were painful enough on the physical front.  —  But when speaking to reporters Friday about his decision to sign with the Indians …

Ex-Astro Dave Roberts dies of cancer at 64  —  Pitcher was with Pirates for 1979 World Series win over O's  —  MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — David Arthur Roberts, a lefthanded pitcher who played for eight Major League teams including the 1979 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates, has died of lung cancer.

Busting the Myth of the Salary Cap  —  Small-market teams love salary caps.  Or rather, they think they do.  At least on paper, caps stop teams in New York, Boston, and Chicago from oligopolizing the free-agent market, and should therefore help level the economic playing field.

Gonzalez: Yanks keep on grabbin'  —  Less than three years after they got $942 million in tax-free bonds for a new Bronx stadium, the Yankees are at the public trough again.  —  With our city facing the worst financial crisis since the Depression, and more than 200,000 people expected to lose …

Voter: I made a mistake not voting for Rickey Henderson  —  It remains to be seen how close Rickey Henderson comes to being the first unanimous selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but the one sportswriter who publicly disclosed that he didn't vote for Henderson already has admitted he made a mistake.