Mike Maddux, Dale Sveum take center stage in Cubs' search  —  Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux is a candidate for the Cubs' managerial job.  Leon Halip~Getty Images  —  It took more than three months for the Cubs to get their new front office team in place.

Steve Garvey prepping proposal to purchase Los Angeles Dodgers  —  The investment group led by former Dodger greats Steve Garvey and Orel Hershiser is preparing a proposal to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers in a bankruptcy court auction.  —  To speed the process along, bidders in the auction …

Agent: Oswalt plans to pitch in 2012  —  The agent for Roy Oswalt affirmed Wednesday that the veteran pitcher “absolutely” plans to pitch in 2012, following a season in which he was twice placed on the disabled list with lower back inflammation.  —  “His back feels great,” Bob Garber told FOXSports.com.

Top offensive players earn Silver Sluggers  —  The postseason honor roll expanded Wednesday, when the American League and National League distributed the Silver Slugger Award to the best offensive players at each position.  Nine players received the award for the first time, and only six players were repeat winners from last year.

Would Pujols really agree to a statue if he were leaving St. Louis?  —  Should Albert Pujols(notes) bolt town through free agency this hot stove season, at least St. Louis Cardinals fans will have an awkward memento to remember him by.  —  A 1o-foot, 1,100-pound statue of the two-time World Series winner …

Floyd Mayweather Jr. eyes May 5 fight  —  Floyd Mayweather Jr. does not plan on taking another 16-month vacation from the boxing ring, like he did after easily outpointing Shane Mosley in May 2010.  —  Instead, Mayweather, who knocked out Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17, will make a relatively hasty return …

Cardinals start manager interviews Thursday  —  A search committee headed by Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak today begins what it hopes is a 10-day process to identify the successor to departing manager Tony La Russa.  —  The committee today holds …

Dodgers To Sign Juan Rivera  —  The Dodgers will sign Juan Rivera to a one-year deal worth $4.5MM, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter).  The deal, which is pending a physical, would guarantee the outfielder $4.5MM.  It includes a $4MM salary in 2012 and a $4MM club option for 2013 …

Grady Sizemore ‘not limiting his choices’ in free agency  —  After the Cleveland Indians declined to exercise their 2012 option on him this weekend, free agent center fielder Grady Sizemore has received interest from several teams and is willing to play anywhere, his agent Joe Urbon said.

Los Angeles Angels GM plans new way to evaluate players  —  Incoming Los Angeles Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto signaled a new direction for the way the team plans to evaluate players Wednesday in an interview on 710 ESPN.  —  Unlike most major league teams, the Angels haven't viewed on-base percentage as a pre-eminent statistic.

What should the Marlins do with Chris Coghlan?  —  Around this time two years ago, Chris Coghlan won the National League Rookie of the Year award after a season that led many to believe the Marlins had found their next star player.  —  But Coghlan's stock has drastically dropped …