Cubs get stronger as division gets weaker  —  Central Division rivals doing little this winter to challenge North Siders  —  Ryan Doumit lies.  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates' catcher says he signed a three-year, $11.5 million contract extension because he's “excited about what the future holds for the Pittsburgh Pirates.”

Busy BoSox bolster bullpen with veteran Saito  —  BOSTON — Takashi Saito agreed to a one-year deal with Boston on Saturday, giving the Red Sox another veteran arm in their bullpen.  —  Saito  —  Saito, who had 18 saves and a 2.49 ERA last season despite being limited by an elbow injury …

Nationals interested in Nady, Swisher  —  Washington continues offseason search to add pop to lineup  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals have interest in acquiring Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady and first baseman Nick Swisher.  The two clubs are currently in trade discussions, according to a baseball source.

Source: Martinez talking to Marlins  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic — Pedro Martinez and the Florida Marlins are believed to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a contract and could meet next week, a source told ESPNdeportes.com Saturday night.  —  The Marlins have spoken with Martínez's agent.

Tampa Bay Rays getting left behind in AL East spending spree  —  Pitchers A.J. Burnett, left, and CC Sabathia are introduced Dec. 18, part of a busy and expensive Yankees offseason.  —  The price of last season's success for the Rays is fast approaching $500-million.

Dodgers are a team run (into ground?) like nobody's business  —  You can imagine Page 2's reaction to the news that the Los Angeles Business Journal recently selected the McCourts the city's “Power Couple of the Year.”  —  Time for Jerry Buss to lock onto one of those 18-year-olds for keeps …

Andy's strategy a costly wrong move  —  Andy Pettitte must have an ego the size of Texas, or else he's getting bad advice from his handlers.  Either way, the left-hander has run face first into a Yankee reality: negotiating with the Bombers is like talking to Tony Soprano.  It's just business, nothing personal.

At the New Yankee Stadium, Sanity Rides the Bench  —  Suppose a public school wanted some nice new things.  —  Things like a 60-inch plasma television for every class, a dining room outfitted with leather banquettes and linen tablecloths, and an emerald green playing field.

For Henderson, the Hall of Fame Is on Line 1  —  The voice-mail message on Rickey Henderson's cellphone is unusually wordy and quirky.  He says hello and pauses, presumably to confuse callers into thinking he has actually answered, that it is not a recording.

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 …