Baseball News

INDIANAPOLIS - Tony La Russa is confident Mark McGwire will do fine as the Cardinals' hitting coach. Among the reasons the St. Louis manager is certain: Big Mac has already started his new job. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS - Ivan Rodriguez and the Washington Nationals reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $6 million, two-year contract. Full Story »

LOS ANGELES - Dodgers president Dennis Mannion is adding oversight of the club's baseball operations to his duties. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS - Pat Courtney of the commissioner's office has won the Robert O. Fishel Award for public relations excellence in Major League Baseball. Full Story »

DETROIT - Smooth-fielding shortstop Adam Everett decided to stay with the Detroit Tigers, agreeing Monday to a $1.55 million, one-year contract. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS - Brian Bruney was dealt Monday to the Washington Nationals from the New York Yankees for a player to be named in the first trade of the winter meetings. Full Story »

MILWAUKEE - Brewers reliever Mark DiFelice has had surgery on his right shoulder. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS - Whitey Herzog spent a good, long time stewing about a blown call in the 1985 World Series. So in a strange way, perhaps this fits: He's going into the Hall of Fame, standing next to an umpire. Full Story »

PITTSBURGH - For an eighth consecutive season, the Pittsburgh Pirates won't raise season-ticket prices — the longest such stretch without a hike in the major leagues. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS - The Boston Red Sox got a pitcher on the first day of the winter meetings. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Nationals moved to bolster their pitching staff by acquiring Brian Bruney from the New York Yankees for a player to be named later, the teams said Monday. Full Story »

INDIANAPOLIS - Left-hander Clay Rapada has been acquired by the Texas Rangers from the Detroit Tigers for a player to be named or cash. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Whitey Herzog, a six-time division winner and manager of the 1982 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, and umpire Doug Harvey have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Full Story »

A month ago, during simpler times, Tiger Woods was presented with a tricky question: Who would he pick as the athlete of the decade? Full Story »

BOSTON - Marco Scutaro slipped on his new Red Sox jersey to pose for the cameras, then asked whether he should leave it on for the rest of the news conference. Full Story »

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics acquired third baseman Jake Fox, second baseman Aaron Miles and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday for three players. Full Story »

ATLANTA - The Braves made another move to strengthen their pitching staff Thursday, agreeing to a $3.2 million, one-year contract with reliever Takashi Saito. Full Story »

PHILADELPHIA - Placido Polanco is putting aside his Gold Glove and switching positions to have a chance at winning a championship. Full Story »