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 …

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 …

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 …

Nats GM Mike Rizzo says nothing has changed with regard to Prince Fielder  —  The Washington Nationals and Prince Fielder.  Prince Fielder and the Washington Nationals.  With each day that ends with the slugging first baseman still on the free-agent market, the assumption grows that when it comes …

Big Z's run in Chicago over with trade to Miami  —  Cubs swap embattled Zambrano for Volstad after 11 seasons  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs knew they were committed to spending $18 million in 2012 on Carlos Zambrano one way or another, but Theo Epstein wasn't convinced that the right-hander could win back the trust of his teammates.

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.

MacDougal on verge of signing one-year deal  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are close to re-signing right-handed reliever Mike MacDougal, who would round out their bullpen, to a one-year, $1 million contract.  —  MacDougal, who turns 35 in March, was signed a year ago by the Dodgers …

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.

Sources: Bill O'Brien to coach Penn St.  —  New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has agreed to become the coach at Penn State Nittany Lions, according to sources.  —  The Nittany Lions plan to make the move official with an announcement Saturday, the sources said.

Rockies trade Greg Reynolds for Chad Tracy, shipping off another first-rounder  —  As the Rockies nosedived in the standings last September, general manager Dan O'Dowd admitted that the team has to draft better to contend consistently.  —  This winter has been a painful reminder of missed picks …

Agent: M's will add P Hisashi Iwakuma  —  Free agent pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma has reached agreement on a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Seattle Mariners, Iwakuma's agent, Paul Cobbe, told ESPN.com.  —  The total value of the deal could increase to $4.9 million if Iwakuma reaches …

Nakajima, Yankees unable to reach deal  —  With no agreement, veteran shortstop returns to Seibu Lions  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees announced on Thursday that they were unable to sign infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, who will instead continue to play for the Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League.

Rangers hire Josh Hamilton's father-in-law as the outfielder's new accountability partner  —  From Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com: … Chadwick will travel on the road with the Rangers, watching over Hamilton's daily activities and providing him a steady source of encouragement …

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera pleads no contest to drunken driving, will not get jail time  —  Miguel Cabrera DUI arrest: The Florida state attorney's office today released a police video in Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera's Feb. 16 arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence.