Thome, Phillies agree to one-year deal  —  PHILADELPHIA — Jim Thome signified a rebirth of baseball in Philadelphia with his arrival in 2003.  —  He's coming back for possibly his final shot at a World Series championship.  —  Sources said Friday evening that the Phillies and Thome have agreed on a one-year contract.

Cardinals pitcher Forsch dies at age 61  —  Bob Forsch, one of a handful of pitchers to have two no-hit games and the third winningest pitcher in Cardinals history, collapsed at his home near Tampa Fla., and died suddenly Thursday night.  —  Early reports from his wife, Jan, were that Forsch …

Nats interested in free agent Oswalt to lead staff  —  WASHINGTON — After signing right-hander Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year deal, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo indicated that he wants to add another veteran starter to the rotation.  —  According to a baseball source …

Minor League Free Agents 2011  —  Major League Baseball granted free agency to 537 minor league players on Nov. 2, five days after Game Seven of the World Series heralded the end of the 2011 season.  The number of players in this year's free agent class is consistent with totals from 2010 (533 players) and '09 (536).

Cubs manager interviews out of ordinary  —  Applicants will be confronted with game-like situations to test decision-making  —  Once the Cubs managerial candidates settle into their seat for an interview, they will be put through an unconventional interview that's a bit more complicated than asking …

AP Source: Cardinals Interview Matheny for Manager  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the search tells The Associated Press that former St. Louis catcher Mike Matheny has been interviewed for the Cardinals' vacant manager's job.  He is the third person to be interviewed since …

New details revealed in MLB Network's 1986: A Postseason to Remember, on Wed., Nov. 9 at 9 p.m. ET  —  After one of the most exciting Postseasons in Major League Baseball history, MLB Network will look back 25 years to the League Championship Series and World Series in “1986: A Postseason to Remember …

Is Giants' best hope trading Lincecum?  —  At this time last year, the baseball industry was raving about the San Francisco rotation.  After going more than a half-century between titles, the Giants had the pitching to win multiple championships.  —  But young starters are rarely as perfect as they seem.

If Reyes waits, he'll get big bucks — but not from Mets  —  Mets on Twitter  —  The Mets insist they want to retain Jose Reyes, but at their reasonable price and, well, they really should stop saying that.  —  It is akin to going into a Mercedes dealership, badly wanting a new model …

Citi Field tweaks help Bay, Wright  —  New changes will increase the Amazin's production, but pitchers will benefit as well  —  New York Mets left fielder Jason Bay's home run production at Citi Field may double as the result of changes to the ballpark's dimensions, while third baseman David …

New luxury-tax system anticipated  —  It has been around for nine seasons now, complicating the New York Yankees' lives and, occasionally, the lives of another team or two.  But baseball's Competitive Balance Tax — a.k.a. the “luxury tax” — quietly disappeared last week.