Mark McGwire's One-Eyed Brother Reveals The Not-So-Startling Truth

Jay McGwire idolized his older brothers, became hooked on steroids, crashed, found God, and now wants to share his story with the world. He also claims he introduced the fallen home run hero to 'roids.

Deadspin

Tigers Still In Pursuit Of Jason Isringhausen

The Tigers also remain in pursuit of a free-agent reliever such as Jason Isringhausen or Brandon Lyon.

Fox Sports

Cold Reality Check For Remaining Free Agents, Plus More Notes

Each passing day brings us closer to spring training and the remaining free agents to a cold reality check, if not forced retirement for a few.

Sports Illustrated

Free Agents Facing Adjustment Period

Baseball's Winter Meetings are more than a month old, it's a new year, and the normally feverish Hot Stove wheelings and dealings that warm up holiday nights like egg nog have given way to an ice storm.

MLB

Dodgers Pursuing List Of Pitchers Which Includes Braden Looper

The Dodgers are pursuing starting pitchers Jon Garland, Braden Looper and Randy Wolf -- and to a lesser extent Andy Pettitte -- and relievers Luis Ayala and Dennys Reyes. They no longer appear to be interested in reliever Juan Cruz, whose signing would have cost them a first-round draft pick.

LA Times

Free Agent Starters An Option For Cardinals

Barring a surprising development of some sort, the Cardinals' closer for 2009 is likely already on the club's roster. The situation at second base may be unclear, but odds are that most of the at-bats there will also be taken by players already in-house.

Cardinals Official Site

Cardinals Won't Rule Out Jason Isringhausen's Return

Free-agent righty Jason Isringhausen is considering four teams, each of which would give him the chance to close, according to his agent, Dan Horwits. The Dodgers' interest in Isringhausen is "thin," one source said, but the Cardinals are not ruling out Izzy's return. The Tigers are another possibility

Fox Sports

Every Given Sunday: Not Actually Getting Ink Done

Two months ago we looked at the top 25 players available on the free-agent market, and today, nine of those 25 are still looking for work. This year the market has developed much more slowly than usual, and 36 percent of the cream of that original crop (by 2008 WARP3 figures) remain unemployed.

Baseball Prospectus

34 Days & Counting Until Pitchers, Catchers Report

How good are the Astros without adding another piece? The Chicago Cubs definitely are better. In the National League Central, that's it. The Cardinals are counting on lots of young players. They may still be in a signing mode, but they're comfortable that Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan will keep their team in contention.

Houston Chronicle

Dodgers Eyeing Braden Looper, Cardinals Major Players For Kenshin Kawakami

The Dodgers, who as of today have little to count on in their starting rotation, are hoping to add at least one of Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Braden Looper. Andy Pettitte remains a longshot, even with Joe Torre doing the recruiting. They also need a reliever or two and have some interest in Trevor Hoffman. The Brewers are among the other teams seriously considering Hoffman.

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Kenshin Kawakami, a middle-of-the-rotation starter who pitched 11 seasons for the Chunichi Dragons, is drawing solid interest from the Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox, Twins and Orioles. Depending on how Pettitte plays out, the Yankees might also be in. Kawakami, 33, is an athletic right-hander with good command of four pitches.

Yahoo

Andy Pettitte Rejects Yankees' Offer, Making Return Uncertain

In some ways, Andy Pettitte is no different from the dozens of other free agents to start the new year without a team. Players all over baseball are waiting for better offers, and teams are searching for bargains.

New York Times

Rick Ankiel Most Likely On The Trading Block

Wren had trade discussions with the St. Louis earlier this offseason about outfielders Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. Of the two, Ankiel seems most likely to be traded by the Cardinals.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Who Is Left In Free Agency?

Now that Tony LaRussa’s self-proclaimed primary focus in the free agent market has signed on for several millions with the Los Angeles of Anaheim, Orange County, California, USA Angels - where do the Cardinals turn next?

Pitchers Bat Eighth

Paul Byrd Still Thinking Retirement; Cardinals Still In On Kenshin Kawakami

An email checking in with Paul Byrd on Friday brought the following response – “Still thinking possible retirement or maybe a mid-season joining of a team with a need” – and maybe he was joking, or experiencing the trepidation that comes with a silent telephone, or is simply done, at 38 and potentially fighting health issues. My measured response – “Huh? Seriously? Retire? I’m surprised.” – brought no answer. About three weeks ago Byrd declined an arbitration offer from the Red Sox, so maybe he is serious.

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The Cardinals, Orioles, Twins and Braves are also scraping for a starter or two, and they’re all in on Kawakami.

Yahoo

Resetting The Market: Top 20 Remaining Free Agents

This star-studded free-agent market is reminiscent of Bengie Molina on the base paths. That is to say, it's not moving too swift. Despite one of the best groups of free agents in years, a vast majority of those available players remain unsigned into the new year.

Sports Illustrated

Veterans Not Ready For Rocking Chairs

The old guys are primping backstage, hoping for one more flood of spotlight when the 2009 curtain rises. The senior citizens of the mound set want to rock and roll, not settle into a rocking chair.

MLB

Starter Kit

And down go two of the big second tier starter names—Brad Penny to the Red Sox, Randy Johnson to the Giants.

Viva El Birdos

Cardinals Still Interested In Kenshin Kawakami

Dennis Eckersley delivers Hall of Fame endorsements...

6. Kenshin Kawakami, RHP, free agent - The Red Sox are one of a handful of teams (the Orioles, Braves, Reds, and Cardinals are among the others) still interested in Kawakami, a former Chunichi Dragons starter. Only eight active major league pitchers with 1,500 or more innings have a better winning percentage than Kawakami's (.609). Granted, Kawakami's came in Japan. They are: Pedro Martinez, .684; Johan Santana, .681, Roy Oswalt,.668; Roy Halladay, 665; Tim Hudson, .655; Johnson, .648; Andy Pettitte, .629; and CC Sabathia, 616.

Boston Globe

Andy Pettitte Return Less Likely After Mark Teixeira Signing; Could Look At Mark Mulder

Andy Pettitte could be headed toward a delay-of-game penalty that ends his YankeesNew York Yankees' career.

NY Post

Yankees Could Pull Andy Pettitte Offer

For the past few weeks, I've been wondering what Andy Pettitte is waiting on in not accepting the Yankees' one-year, $10 million contract offer. The chances are good now that he has waited too long. As of midday no final decision had been made. But the source I talked to said the Yankees are "pretty happy with our team as is," and that the offer to Pettitte may no longer be available.

Newsday