Yankees' Posada is planning to retire  —  One by one, the Core Four is bidding farewell.  —  Catcher Jorge Posada, a member of the New York Yankees for his entire 17-year career, plans to announce his retirement, according to a major league source.  —  Posada, 40, is not expected …

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 …

In a Hemingway Idyll, Intimations of Tolkien  —  R. A. Dickey, the Mets pitcher, is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this month to raise awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization that rescues and cares for women and girls in Mumbai who are at risk of being abused and exploited.

Andy Carey, 80, Played Third Base for Yankees, Is Dead  —  Andy Carey, an underappreciated cog in the powerful Yankees machine of the 1950s that won four consecutive American League pennants and two World Series, died on Dec. 15 at his home in Costa Mesa, Calif. He was 80.

Angels Sign Jorge Cantu To Minor League Deal  —  The Angels have signed Jorge Cantu to a minor league contract, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).  Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier today that the two sides were close to an agreement.

Cespedes still on Marlins' radar  —  MIAMI — Sometime in the next 10 days, Cuban sensation Yeonis Cespedes is expected to become a free agent.  When that day comes, the Marlins will be in the mix for the 26-year-old outfielder.  —  An industry source said Jan. 15 is a tentative day that Cespedes …

Kendrys Morales begins running, can increase baseball activity  —  Kendrys Morales has begun running on his own body weight and was cleared Friday to “ramp up” some baseball activities, according to a person familiar with the slugger's rehabilitation from a broken left ankle but unauthorized to speak publicly about it.

Financial Firm Hired, but Mets Insist It's Not About Bankruptcy  —  CRG Partners lists as its special talents financial advisory work, restructuring and reorganization, and turnaround management — polite descriptions of services needed by companies in distress.

Marlins' Buehrle welcome in Dade, but his pit bull isn't  —  County ordinance prohibits breed  —  The Miami Marlins really wanted left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle.  —  But a member of his family isn't welcome anywhere in Miami-Dade County.  —  It's because 18-month-old Slater Buehrle …

Tigers' Rick Porcello opts out of contract, becomes eligible for arbitration  —  DETROIT — Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello is in line to receive quite a hefty holiday bonus in the upcoming weeks.  —  Porcello, as expected, exceeded the service time needed to qualify for Super Two status this year …

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.