Yankees one of three teams pursuing Damon  —  The Yankees clearly are not Johnny Damon's first choice for 2011 employment, which makes sense.  While the Yankees have expressed interest in bringing back Damon for next season, as Newsday reported on Wednesday, they don't have a clear, everyday role for him.

Rockies acquire Lindstrom from Astros  —  The Rockies filled a key spot in their bullpen by acquiring right-hander Matt Lindstrom from the Astros.  Full details will come soon.  —  Lindstrom, who turns 31 on Feb. 11, went 2-5 with a 4.39 ERA for the Astros last season.

Bronx?  Cooperstown?  Pettitte Is a Man of Many Questions  —  If Andy Pettitte has indeed thrown his last pitch, he will retire with more victories than Whitey Ford, a better winning percentage than Bob Feller, Juan Marichal and Tom Seaver, and the most postseason wins in baseball history.

Don't exclude steroid users from Hall  —  Tracy Ringolsby is a Hall of Fame baseball writer.  He is in his 35th year covering Major League Baseball, is a co-founder of Baseball America, and appears on pre- and postgame shows for Colorado Rockies games on FSN Rocky Mountain.

Rockies ink three to Minor League deals  —  DENVER — The Rockies have agreed to terms on Minor League contracts with three players, outfielder Jeff Salazar and infielders Matt Macri and Tug Hulett, player development director Marc Gustafson said Thursday.  —  Salazar, who played 19 games …

Minor League Transactions: Rangers, Twins, Nats  —  Here are some minor transactions from the past week, courtesy of Baseball America's Matt Eddy...  - The Rangers signed two former first-round draft picks in left-hander Zach Jackson and utility infielder Omar Quintanilla.

Reports: Rangers, Arthur Rhodes agree  —  Left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes agreed to a one-year deal with the Rangers with a vesting option for a second season, according to multiple reports.  —  A Rangers spokesman said the club had nothing to report.  Rhodes would have to pass a physical for the deal to become official.

Ex-New York Yankees pitching coach was ‘shocked’ by firing  —  Former New York Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland, now a member of divisional rival Tampa Bay, said he was blindsided by the axe that fell on him a few days after the team was knocked out of the American League Championship Series by the Texas Rangers.

Opinion: The Man Who Saved Baseball  —  Cliff Lee is more than just the modern-day Sandy Koufax.  At least to Philadelphia Jews, he is.  —  Let me explain.  Sure, Mr. Lee may be a good 'ole Arkansas boy who enjoys a hunting expedition and has the (non-Jewish) good looks of a young John Wayne.

Blanton could be hot item in thin market  —  Phils would like to unload salary, and many teams eye pitching  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies have little to do after signing Cliff Lee to a $120 million contract last week.  —  But there is one significant move remaining.

Watergate Special Prosecutor Wanted Steinbrenner Investigated  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox expressed “extreme interest” in a 1970s criminal investigation of the Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner for illegal campaign contributions, according to documents released Thursday.