Barry Larkin elected to Hall of Fame … Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday, getting 86.4 percent of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.  —  A player needs at least 75 percent to gain election.

Tigers, Cubs talking Garza trade  —  Excellent baseball sources have confirmed for me tonight that the Cubs are down the road in discussions with the Detroit Tigers to send Matt Garza to the Motor City in exchange for a package of prospects.  The Cubs are currently in the middle …

Orioles sign Taiwanese left-hander Chen  —  The Orioles have signed left-hander Wei-Yin Chen of Taiwan to a three-year contract with a club option for 2015.  The team formally announced the agreement on Tuesday.  —  Chen, 26, spent the last four years with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Central League.

Rockies' Nicasio facing hitters, remains on track to compete in spring  —  While the lack of a veteran starting pitcher has left many Rockies fans uneasy about the team's rotation, the progress of Juan Nicasio has been a bright spot.  —  The right-hander's remarkable recovery from a broken neck has continued in the Dominican Republic.

Dodgers next owners need patience  —  Those lining up to buy the franchise had better know the team is a few years away  —  With prospective owners lining up around the block to bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers, we thought it'd be helpful to shine a light on just what kind of team they'd be buying.

Rangers' Darvish bid is about $52M; work to do  —  The Texas Rangers are offering about “Dice K money” to star Japanese righthander Yu Darvish, sources told CBSSports.com, and there's no evidence a deal is at hand.  —  The expression “Dice K money” would mean the offer is someone in the range …

Kendrick, Angels agree to $33.5M, 4-year deal  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — All-Star second baseman Howie Kendrick agreed to a $33.5 million, four-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, passing up a chance to hit the free-agent market after next season.

Hall of Fame Broadcaster Vin Scully Headlines Final Three Bobbleheads in the 2012 Dodger Stadium Greats Bobblehead Series  —  LOS ANGELES - The Dodgers unveiled today the final three collectibles in the Dodger Stadium Greats Bobblehead Series which will be given away as part …

MLB to make TV, timing decisions on new playoff games  —  MLB this week during owners meetings in Arizona will wrestle with the mechanics of inserting an additional round of playoffs into the 2012 schedule, including how to televise the extra games.  —  The league and MLB Players Association in November …