Cubs Acquire Anthony Rizzo  —  The Cubs have acquired first baseman Anthony Rizzo and right-hander Zach Cates from the Padres for right-hander Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na, the teams announced.  The move provides the Cubs with a potential long-term first baseman and makes room for another first baseman in San Diego.

Sources: Cubs' Starlin Castro Accused Of Sexual Assault  —  CHICAGO (CBS) — WBBM Newsradio has learned that Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a night of drinking last fall.  —  As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports exclusively …

Moving Garza makes sense for Cubs  —  The Cubs' position on right-hander Matt Garza is the same as the White Sox's position was on lefty John Danks. … Well, OK.  But if the Cubs are going to trade Garza, the time to do it is now — before he risks injury, and before the trade rumors he surely will hear in 2012 drive him nuts.

Source: Orioles talked to Cubs about Soriano  —  Another day passed without any news from the warehouse, leaving me with little to do besides count the number of calls and text messages that went unreturned and sweeping up about 12 pounds of pine needles that fell off my Christmas tree as I carried it outside.

Howard cleared by doctor to begin exercises  —  Phils slugger likely to start baseball activities in six weeks  —  PHILADELPHIA — Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. sounded relatively chipper early Thursday evening.  —  He had reason to be.  Amaro said he received encouraging news …

Sources: Cards' Duncan taking leave  —  Dave Duncan, one of the game's most respected pitching coaches, is taking a leave of absence from the St. Louis Cardinals, general manager John Mozeliak said Thursday night.  —  Duncan, 66, is leaving the team so he can be with his wife, Jeanine …

Mets Hire Turnaround Consultants, Put Bankruptcy On Table?  —  A source familiar with the situation has said that the Mets have hired CRG Partners — the turnaround consultants that handled the Rangers' bankruptcy sale — and that a team sale with or without bankruptcy is on the table.

O'Brien agrees to become Penn State coach  —  New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has agreed to become Penn State's first new head football coach in nearly a half-century.  —  The Nittany Lions plan to announce O'Brien's hiring Saturday, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.