Nationals a favorite for Fielder  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  An MLB official told me over the weekend that word is spreading in the industry that the Washington Nationals have emerged as a favorite to sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder.

Coco Crisp decides on next team, but won't say  —  Departures are the norm for the A's this winter, with pitchers Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez and Craig Breslow all dealt away and free-agents Josh Willingham and David DeJesus officially moving on.  —  One of the A's own free-agent outfielders, however, remains on the team's radar.

“No real favorite” in 5-team Garza derby  —  There is “no real favorite” in the five-team Matt Garza sweepstakes, according to someone familiar with the talks.  —  The teams involved the derby for the 28-year-old Cubs righthander at this point are the Yankees, Blue Jays, Tigers, Red Sox and Marlins.

Is Marlins All Star Hanley Ramirez finally warming to the idea of third base?  —  Perhaps the biggest question for the Marlins going into spring training is whether Hanley Ramirez will embrace his new position at third base.  Judging from his comments Friday in the Dominican Republic …

Brewers await resolutions on Braun, Aoki  —  MILWAUKEE — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said the club entered the New Year with no word about the status of outfielder Ryan Braun, who faces a 50-game suspension under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention & Treatment Program.

Larkin is only no-doubter on Hall of Fame ballot  —  PLAYER VALUE RANKINGS ("WAR")  —  My second-favorite measuring tool to gauge who may or may not be a Baseball Hall of Famer is called “WAR” (Wins Above Replacement).  —  It judges a player's career value to his team by determining …

Yankees continue to negotiate with Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima  —  Bombers have until Jan. 6 to sign player  —  Hiroyuki Nakajima will likely have to take a pay cut — and will certainly have to accept a backup role — with the New York Yankees.  —  The Yankees continue to negotiate …

The softening sadness of a brother's death  —  So this is what people carry with them.  —  This is what makes them hard or empathetic.  This is what drives them or takes out their legs.  —  This is what it's like to wake up and start the day, not sure which will be you.