Juan Gonzalez gone from HOF ballots  —  Specter of steroids outweighed imposing numbers by former Rangers slugger … The slick promotional publication hit the mailbox sometime in late November or early December, just as it has for several years now.  On the cover was the man we came to know and love as “Juando the Condo.”

Wood's time with Cubs appears all but over  —  While new Cubs baseball management has said all the right things about re-signing Kerry Wood as they go about the process of rebuilding a 71-win team, it appears that talking may be as far as they are going to go to get a deal done with the popular pitcher.

Source: Selig to be offered two-year extension  —  Baseball commissioner Bud Selig will be offered an extension to his current contract, a highly placed source said.  —  Selig, 77, has one more year remaining on his current contract.  He has previously said he intends to retire in 2012.

The battle over Jeff Bagwell  —  Buster Olney writes that Jeff Bagwell is seemingly close to the Hall of Fame — earning 56 percent of the votes this year — but yet so far because of the ramifications of his era and PED suspicions that some writers can't seem to overlook.

Oliver acquisition beefs up Blue Jays' bullpen  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays put the finishing touches on their bullpen Monday morning by officially signing left-hander Darren Oliver to a one-year contract.  —  Oliver will earn $4 million in 2012, with a club option valued at $3 million for the following season.

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.

Bout time?  Q and A with Braves third baseman Chipper Jones  —  It's a little less than six weeks from when Braves pitchers and catchers report for spring training on Feb. 19, and I haven't bugged Chipper Jones all offseason.  What's up with that?  —  Well let's say that's remedied …

Posey ramps up running in prep for camp  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Following the schedule the Giants prescribed, catcher Buster Posey has added running to his workout regimen as he continues efforts to heal his left leg in time for the 2012 season.  —  Head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner …

New York Mets Top 11 Prospects  —  System In 20 Words Or Less: With improvement coming via all three areas—draft, trades, international—the Mets are finally moving in the right direction.  —  Five-Star Prospects  —  1. Matt Harvey, RHP  —  2. Zack Wheeler, RHP  —  Four-Star Prospects

Barry Larkin career highlights  —  The news came down earlier today.  As predicted here at THT, Barry Larkin is the newest member of the Hall of Fame.  —  In honor of that grand honor, it's only fitting to spend some time looking back at the career that got him into Cooperstown.