Sources: Darren Oliver close to deal with Toronto  —  It appears Darren Oliver's third stint with the Rangers is now over.  —  According to two major league sources, Oliver is nearing the execution of a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and will not return to the Rangers bullpen for 2012.

Jones returning to Yankees in 2012  —  NEW YORK — Andruw Jones is set to put the pinstripes back on next season, agreeing to terms on Friday on a one-year contract.  —  The 34-year-old Jones will earn a base salary of $2 million and could tack on $1.4 million in performance incentives, CBSSports.com has reported.

Baseball writers need guidance from Hall of Fame  —  One year.  One measly year.  —  That's all the time left before the three-player crash that proves once and for all how broken the Hall of Fame voting process has become.  —  Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa are due on the Hall ballot for the first time next December.

Ranking the top 10 outfields in MLB  —  In Part 4 of his series looking ahead to the 2012 season, Buster Olney ranks the 10 best outfields in Major League Baseball.  The Arizona Diamondbacks claim the No. 1 spot.

Sources: Tigers join pursuit of Cubs' Garza  —  The Detroit Tigers have emerged as a suitor for Chicago Cubs starter Matt Garza.  —  Interest in Garza has picked up recently, major league sources say, and the Tigers are involved.  Multiple teams are pursuing Garza aggressively …

A-Rod's blood treatment care toes a fine line  —  Five years ago, I asked a question: What is a performance-enhancing drug?  I had read a study from Denmark that espoused human growth hormone's ability to heal broken bones faster, and it turned my 20/20 vision on the issue to 20/20,000.

Mariners sign free-agent LHP George Sherrill to 2012 contract  —  SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik today announced that the Mariners have signed free-agent left-handed pitcher George Sherrill to a 2012 contract.

St. Louisian Don Mueller, former big-league star, dies  —  Image  —  St. Louisan Don Mueller, who led the majors in hits in 1954 and roamed the outfield with Willie Mays of the New York Giants, died on Wednesday.  He was 84.  —  Mueller, a native St. Louisan who played at CBC …

Boras and Fielder did not meet with Angelos on free agent tour  —  In an attempt to market his top free-agent client to major league baseball's biggest decision-makers, renowned player representative Scott Boras took slugging first baseman Prince Fielder on a brief tour this month to meet with several club owners.

Cubs Sign Cuban Prospects Yasiel Balaguert, Carlos Martinez  —  The Cubs have signed a pair of Cuban prospects, outfielder Yasiel Balaguert and righthander Carlos Martinez.  —  Balaguert, who turns 19 on Jan. 9, has modest tools, a strong, thick-bodied frame (6 feet, 190 pounds) …