Braves nearing Kawakami deal and preparing Lowe offer  —  By the time the Braves make their first formal offer to Derek Lowe early next week, they may have already lured Kenshin Kawakami to Atlanta to strengthen the middle of their rotation.  Multiple Major League sources confirmed Friday night …

Team USA roster taking shape  —  Peavy, Lackey, Oswalt lining up in rotation for '09 Classic  —  Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic started last month with Derek Jeter of the Yankees as the starting shortstop and Davey Johnson as the manager.

Redding agrees in principle with Mets on $2.25 million deal  —  If the Washington Nationals hadn't balked at a trade for Willy Taveras a month ago, Tim Redding might be a Rockie today.  But once he was non-tendered, becoming a free agent, the chance to chase a childhood dream trumped everything else.

White Sox general manager Ken Williams nixes Jermaine Dye trade rumors  —  For the second time in a week, White Sox general manager Ken Williams is denying rumors his team is close to making what would be considered a blockbuster deal.  —  Williams, via e-mail, said he “would not waste” …

Stimulant exemptions in MLB on the rise  —  Major League Baseball authorized about 8 percent of its players to use drugs for ADHD last season, which allowed them to take otherwise banned stimulants.  A total of 106 exemptions for banned drugs were given to players claiming Attention Deficit …

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 …

Dodgers agree to terms with Shawn Estes  —  LOS ANGELES: Pitcher Shawn Estes has agreed to terms of a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers that could be worth as much as $1.55 million.  —  Estes would receive $550,000 if added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster …

What's the catch?  —  Marc Rubin (no relation), a 26-year veteran stats professor at Southern New Hampshire University's Graduate School of Business, where he specializes in compensation analysis, writes Surfing the Mets with the assertion that the Mets' bullpen woes in 2008 were attributable to the team's catchers.

Red Sox finalize one-year, $5M deal with Penny … BOSTON (AP) — Brad Penny and Mike Lowell have more in common than a 2003 World Series ring: They both came to Boston to revive their careers.  —  Penny, who finalized a one-year, $5 million deal Friday, is a two-time All-Star who won …

Manny update No. 3,452  —  I really enjoyed this blog entry that skewers the daily rat-a-tat of Manny Ramirez rumors in the press and online, of which I contributed my fair share.  —  I am an old-school newspaperman who actually has come to appreciate the immediacy of the Internet …

Cards content to go in-house for closer  —  GM thinks current options on team would suffice for ninth inning  —  ST. LOUIS — It's little secret that the Cardinals have considered a wide variety of options for their ninth-inning job in 2009.  However, it seems that most of those options …