Kent walks away after 17 seasons  —  Retires as all-time home run leader among second basemen  —  LOS ANGELES — Jeff Kent, the premier slugging second baseman of his generation and arguably of all-time, will announce his retirement at a Dodger Stadium news conference Thursday, MLB.com has learned.

ESPN shuffles talent to battle partner MLB  —  One of the longest-running acts in TV sports is getting a new cast member.  ESPN will formally announce Wednesday that Steve Phillips will join Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, who've called ESPN's Sunday night baseball for 19 years.

Phils Avoid Arbitration With Werth  —  The Phillies and outfielder Jayson Werth avoided arbitration Wednesday by agreeing to a multiyear deal.  —  In 134 games last season (103 starts), Werth hit .273 with 24 home runs and 67 RBIs.  He also scored 73 runs and stole 20 bases.

Heath Bell and Arbitration  —  Today we announced an agreement on a one-year deal with Heath Bell, thereby avoiding the arbitration process.  This was our final arbitration eligible player for this winter, as we've reached agreements with Scott Hairston, Jody Gerut, and Luis Rodriguez in the past few weeks …

Cabrera, Nady avoid arbitration  —  Outfielders land one-year pacts; Bruney club's last remaining case  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees continued to move forward with their winter business on Tuesday, finalizing contracts with outfielders Xavier Nady and Melky Cabrera to avoid salary arbitration.

Mark McGwire's One-Eyed Baby Brother Reveals The Not-So-Startling Truth  —  Jay McGwire grew up idolizing his older brothers, became hooked on steroids, crashed, found God, now wants to share his story with the world.  Oh, and he also claims he introduced Mark to 'roids.

As Bush leaves, so does pardon shot for Rocket  —  There was no last-minute pardon for Roger Clemens before President Bush left the White House Tuesday, and the federal grand jury that has been examining evidence that the former Yankee star committed perjury will continue its work.

ROTI Exclusive: Maple Bat Man Strikes Back!  —  You might wonder what would inspire a normally sane, rational man to write this:  —  So, while you're sitting around this Christmas handing out hundreds of dollars in presents to the ones you care for, think about all the families and business you have managed to destroy.

Horne hopes for big comeback  —  Former Marianna High School and Chipola pitcher Alan Horne left home for Tampa Monday in preparation of yet another spring training.  —  This year's camp, the New York Yankees farmhand hopes, will be the last he attends as a minor leaguer.

Did George Mitchell go fishing for names?  —  Michael S. Schmidt (not the third baseman) of the New York Times wrote today that, for the second time in two days, George Mitchell's office felt compelled to deny something in Kirk Radomski's new book, “Bases Loaded.”

Three Brewers file salary figures  —  Fielder asks for $2 million more than Milwaukee offers  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers avoided arbitration by settling on a one-year contract with right-hander Seth McClung on Tuesday, but by the end of the day still faced the prospect of a hearing with three …

Cubs pitcher Rich Harden opts not to pitch in World Baseball Classic  —  Shoulder wouldn't be ready for World Baseball Classic  —  It comes as no huge surprise that Cubs pitcher Rich Harden has eliminated himself from Canada's roster for the World Baseball Classic, which runs concurrent with spring training.

Rocco thanks Rays fans in newspaper ad  —  UPDATE 1:18: Rocco Baldelli said he decided to take out the ad, which will also appear in tbt* later this week, because he wanted some way to share his feelings about the Tampa Bay area fans.  —  “I just thought it was the right thing to do,” Baldelli said Wednesday from Rhode Island.

2009 ZiPS Projections - Pittsburgh Pirates  —  This is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About, The Moon & Antarctica, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.  —  Despite an organization that has slowly started to turn things around …

Williams has sights set on Classic  —  Inclusion on Puerto Rico's provisional roster gives outfielder hope  —  NEW YORK — More than two years have passed since Bernie Williams' last official action in a Yankees uniform, digging into a batter's box in Detroit for the 2006 American League Division Series.