Torre resigns, to explore bid to buy Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — Former manager Joe Torre resigned his position as an executive with Major League Baseball on Wednesday to pursue a purchase of the Dodgers.  —  With Torre's departure, the baseball operations functions of the Commissioner's Office …

Pirates, starter Maholm talk; return is unlikely  —  The Pirates and free-agent pitcher Paul Maholm have had discussions, but a team source confirmed Tuesday that his return to Pittsburgh is highly unlikely.  —  Management continues to seek to add to its rotation, but any additions probably …

Sources: Ramirez prefers to stay at SS  —  All is still not settled between Hanley Ramirez and the Miami Marlins  —  Ramirez seemed to indicate that he was willing to move from shortstop to third base in an interview with the Associated Press last Friday in the Dominican Republic.

LaRoche uncertain about future in Washington  —  Fielder rumors raise possibility veteran might not return to Nats  —  WASHINGTON — The rumor mill is heating up, and first baseman Adam LaRoche has heard the reports of the Nationals being in the running for free agent Prince Fielder.

Tigers' Dombrowski: Jacob Turner not on trading block  —  Jacob Turner, it appears, is not for sale.  —  Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager, said during an energized Wednesday phone conversation that the Tigers have no plans, nor desire, to trade their 20-year-old …

Astros go data-heavy with addition of director of decision sciences  —  The Astros boosted their commitment to a data-driven existence under new general manager Jeff Luhnow and CEO George Postolos with the hiring of Sig Mejdal as the club's director of decision sciences.  —  In plain English?

SportsWire Twins Mackey: Twins narrowing down search for free-agent bullpen options  —  With the team payroll sitting right around $97 million, the Minnesota Twins still have some breathing room underneath their self-imposed $100 million comfort zone.  —  The team hopes to use that remaining money …

Aoki workout this weekend  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told me this morning that he expects the workout of Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki to take place sometime this weekend in Phoenix.  —  Melvin didn't want to specify the exact …

On Baseball: Yankees Saving Now to Make Free-Agent Splash Later  —  The most telling moment of the Yankees' off-season was when they simply said no to C. J. Wilson.  Here was the No. 1 starter for the Texas Rangers, the two-time defending American League champions.

2012 ZiPS Projections - Milwaukee Brewers  —  The Brewers projections go up and just about the perfect time: after Betancourt is gone, after Ramirez is signed, but before Fielder signs elsewhere.  Fielder's a great player, but the Brewers really do have a solid team that can survive even the loss …

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe) … Since becoming general manager of the Yankees in 1998, Brian Cashman has overseen a franchise that has missed the playoffs only once while winning 100 games six times and earning four World Series championships.

Aubrey Huff tells me his body is “ripped” and that Pilates will be a key to his 2012 revival  —  I just got off the phone with Aubrey Huff, the first newspaper interview he has given since his awful 2011 season ended and the Giants called him out for poor conditioning.