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.

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 …

Matheny interviews with Cardinals; but no Francona yet  —  The Cardinals interviewed Mike Matheny for the manager's job today, but they didn't talk to former Red Sox manager Terry Francona.  —  Matheny, a former Gold Glove catcher with the Cardinals, is currently a minor-league instructor in the organization.

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).

Royals' efforts to acquire the Braves' Jurrjens stall  —  The hot stove grew warmer this week for the Royals, whose offseason efforts to bolster their rotation led to discussions with the Atlanta Braves regarding right-handed pitcher Jair Jurrjens.  —  Those talks stalled when the Braves …

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 …

Cubs 2K12: Job candidates will be asked to manage simulated game  —  Theo Epstein (center) and new Cubs execs Jed Hoyer (right) and Jason McLeod will put prospective managers through their paces in a daylong series of simulations.  Charles Rex Arbogast~AP  —  How do you determine …

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 …

Brewers hitting coach up for BoSox gig?  —  The Red Sox are early in their search for a new manager, but Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum appears to be the front-runner, according to rival executives.  —  Sveum, who turns 48 on Nov. 23, interviewed for the Red Sox's opening on Wednesday.

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 …