MLB players, owners close in on deal  —  The most significant hurdle to a new labor deal in baseball is gone - or close to it.  —  Players and owners are in near-agreement on draft-related issues, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.  —  A deal is possible Sunday or Monday …

Rockies look more aggressive in offseason market  —  It is often in a loss that a team reveals what it will do to win.  —  The Rockies were as aggressive as anyone in pursuing free-agent infielder Jamey Carroll.  They wanted him for the clubhouse, for the lineup and for second base.

Popper: The downside to Mets' rebuilding plan  —  The early recruitment of Jose Reyes by the Florida - now Miami - Marlins raised not only the very real possibility that Reyes would be lost by the Mets, but that they might not get much of anything in return.

Cubs cap final four with Sandy Alomar Jr.  —  And on the ninth day, Theo ­rested.  —  Well, maybe not completely.  But he and the rest of the Cubs' top front-office staff appear finished with the heavy work in their efforts to hire a new manager.  On Friday, Sandy Alomar Jr. became the fourth …

New Baltimore Orioles GM Dan Duquette among group headed to GM meetings in Milwaukee  —  New Twins GM Terry Ryan makes his return to GM meetings  —  Baseball's movers and shakers converge in Bud Selig's Milwaukee this week where the stalled collective bargaining agreement negotiations …

Charlie Lea, former major league pitcher, found dead at Collierville home  —  Former major league pitcher Charlie Lea, a star at Kingsbury High and then-Memphis State University before embarking on a successful pro career, was found dead in his Collierville home Friday.  He was 54.

DeSean Missed Meeting, Won't Play  —  When the Eagles' inactives are announced about 90 minutes before gametime today, there will be one very large surprise.  —  Wideout DeSean Jackson missed a meeting yesterday and was told he would not be in uniform for today's encounter with the Arizona Cardinals …

SOURCES: PHILS REACH DEAL WITH PAPELBON  —  Ruben Amaro Jr. said he wanted a top closer.  —  He got one.  —  The Phillies have reached agreement on a four-year contract with free-agent Jonathan Papelbon, multiple sources told CSNPhilly.com on Friday.  —  The deal, which won't become …

Cardinals could look much the same in 2012  —  Image  —  A year after carrying out a plan to enhance team chemistry and offense, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has charted a different course this winter, regardless of who succeeds Tony La Russa as manager and irrespective …

Dodgers ready to play Moneyball … The Dodgers and general manager Ned Colletti, with his three decades in baseball, have gone sabermetric.  In September the Dodgers hired Alex Tamin, a graduate of Johns Hopkins and UCLA School of Law, as Director of Baseball Contracts, Research and Operations.