Shoulder surgery will delay return of Ryan Kalish  —  The trade of Josh Reddick to Oakland opened up significant playing time in right field for the Red Sox.  One logical solution would be Ryan Kalish, the athletic 23-year-old who performed well in 2010 before being sidelined for nearly all of the 2011 season with injuries.

Sources: Pujols altered deal to help land Wilson  —  Albert Pujols was on the receiving end of one of the most lucrative contracts in professional sports history when he agreed with the Los Angeles Angels on a 10-year deal for about $250 million earlier this month.

Steroid Era complicates Hall balloting  —  Back in May, I wrote that it was wrong to speculate about any player using performance-enhancing drugs without any actual evidence of that use.  —  That column was about Jose Bautista.  It could have been about Jeff Bagwell, though I made no specific mention of him at the time.

Report: Former long-time Oriole Melvin Mora announces retirement  —  According to a report out of Venezuela, former long-time Oriole Melvin Mora announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Thursday while in his home country.  —  Mora, who will turn 40 in February …

White Sox and pitcher John Danks agree to terms on five-year contract  —  The Chicago White Sox and left-handed pitcher John Danks have agreed to terms on a five-year, $65-million contract.  Under terms of the agreement, Danks will receive $8 million in 2012, which was to be his final season …

Nats player: We are “shooting for” Prince  —  There's been a lot of discussion and debate lately about whether the improving Washington Nationals are one of the teams trying to sign free agent slugger Prince Fielder.  —  And while there's still nothing definitive on the subject, one Nats player told me Thursday, “We're in the market.

Predictions: MLB … We're coming to the end of a fascinating year of baseball, with tremendous comebacks, a surprise World Series winner, one of the great single days in the game's history and the news that we'll have labor peace for years to come.  Can 2012 top that?  Perhaps.

Former pitcher Garcia killed in auto accident  —  ARLINGTON — Former Rangers pitcher Rosman Garcia was killed in a car accident in his native Venezuela early Thursday morning.  He was 32.  —  According to The Associated Press, Garcia was killed when his car skidded off the road and hit a tree.

Doctor who treated A-Rod: I can cure arthritis  —  The doctor that New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez traveled to Germany to see for his aching knee and shoulder is a former physician for Pope John Paul II who claims to be a miracle worker when it comes to reversing arthritis.

Mariners Interested In Kevin Millwood  —  The Mariners have interest in free agent right-hander Kevin Millwood, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.  Seattle is looking at veteran pitchers who could join Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda and Jason Vargas in the projected 2012 rotation.

A Departing Q & A with George Vecsey  —  I always hoped this day would never come.  —  Breaking into journalism as a sports reporter back in 1960 with Newsday on Long Island, then beginning in 1968, landing at The New York Times as a general assignment sports reporter …

Exclusive: NYC-based company says Cowboys WR Dez Bryant is ducking another lawsuit  —  Forgive me for some non-Patriots news...  Cowboys WR Dez Bryant will have more on his mind on Sunday when he heads to New Jersey to play the Giants.  The mercurial playmaker is facing another legal battle …