Henderson, Rice given Hall passes  —  Rickey Henderson, widely considered the greatest leadoff hitter in the history of baseball, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Monday on his first ballot with 94.8 percent of the votes cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Texas Rangers' Michael Young: ‘I told them I wanted to be traded’  —  Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young has asked for a trade after he was told the club wanted him to move to third base this season to make room for 20-year-old shortstop prospect Elvis Andrus.  —  “I'm not playing third base,” Young said.

The Wonder of Rickey  —  Today Rickey Henderson will receive a phone call telling him he's been elected to the Hall of Fame.  I realize it's presumptuous to declare someone's election before the Hall elects him, but ... c'mon. He's going in and everyone knows it.

Source: Grand jury convenes in Clemens probe  —  A federal grand jury has convened in Washington, D.C., to determine whether to indict seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for lying under oath to Congress when he denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, ESPN.com has learned.

Sox will wait on Bay — for now  —  If you're wondering if and when the Red Sox intend to discuss a contract extension with Jason Bay, here's your answer: after the remaining free agent hitters — particularly the outfielders — come to terms this free-agent season.

Indians avoid arbitration again, sign Shoppach … CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians agreed to a one-year contract Monday with catcher Kelly Shoppach, continuing their streak of avoiding salary arbitration.  —  Shoppach batted .261 with 21 homers and 55 RBIs in 112 games last season.

Yankees break out a new patch  —  The Yankees are breaking out a patch commemorating the first season at the new Stadium.  It'll be on the home and away uniforms and available on all manner of merchandise.  —  Yankees.com has a few shirts with the logo available already.

The Passion Of Tim Tebow  —  Outlined against a blue-gray January sky, the Lone Horseman will ride again.  —  In a wellorchestrated moment that makes Jimmy Chitwood look like an Amway salesman, Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow took the stage on his home field yesterday …

RUSTY START FOR METS  —  They were going for an old-time feel - but not that old!  —  Spanking-new, $850 million Citi Field is already beginning to rust.  —  A Post reporter spotted brown water from a rusty beam creeping down the wall of the front entrance of Citi Field's main gate in Flushing, Queens, on 126th Street.

Power on the Padres  —  Jeff Moorad purchasing the Padres is a weird looking deal.  For one thing it came together so fast.  The Tribune Company couldn't even change the toner on the printer that spits out the Cubs' offer sheets in the time it took this whole deal to materialize.

Dodgers assistant GM Ng interviewed  —  Kim Ng was interviewed by Lee Hamilton on XM radio yesterday, and here are some quotes from the Dodgers assistant general manager...  Manny was a great player for us last year, and we hope to re-sign him.  Right now, we're in discussions with his agent …