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If the Red Sox cannot trade for a shortstop -- Julio Lugo of Tampa Bay, for one -- they are prepared to put Alex Cora at short. They don't have a Johnny Damon replacement in house, but they are confident they can trade for a center fielder. Coco Crisp of Cleveland and Jeremy Reed of Seattle are mentioned most often.
-- New York Times

Phillies GM Pat Gillick reiterated yesterday that the most likely route for obtaining a quality starter would come via a trade. Right fielder Bobby Abreu is considered the obvious candidate.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

Angels GM Bill Stoneman said reports that he has discussed signing ex-Dodger Jeff Weaver don't have much to them. "That's not a likely thing," Stoneman said.
-- Orange County Register

The Marlins, whose center field options include Chris Aguila and Eric Reed, continue speaking with Tampa Bay about trading pitching prospects for Joey Gathright (.276, 20 steals), an opposing GM said.
-- Miami Herald

Todd Walker's days as a Cub may be numbered, even though he remains one of their best left-handed hitters in a predominantly right-handed lineup. With Ronny Cedeno penciled in as the starting shortstop, Walker finds himself the odd man out behind a Neifi Perez-Jerry Hairston platoon.
-- Chicago Tribune

Cubs president Andy MacPhail said Tuesday he will consider during spring training whether to give general manager Jim Hendry a contract extension before deciding at a later date when to make the expected commitment. If Hendry gets at least a two-year extension, as anticipated, it then would fall to both Hendry and his bosses whether to offer manager Dusty Baker a two-year extension.
-- Chicago Sun-Times

The Angels have all but abandoned their pursuit of a middle-of-the-order bat to bolster their sagging offense, but their 2006 lineup will still have a new look that the Angels hope will give them a little more pop. Darin Erstad was recently told by Manager Mike Scioscia that he would be moving from first base back to center field, a switch that will open first base for prospect Casey Kotchman and will put a crimp in young third baseman Dallas McPherson's playing time.
-- Los Angeles Times

Ken Oberkfell, named minor-league manager of the year by Baseball America last year after guiding Triple-A Norfolk to a division title, is scheduled to interview with the Nationals for a major-league coaching position today.
-- New York Daily News

There are scouts who believe that what the talented Corey Patterson really needs is more time in the minors to get his head straight, but the Orioles are hoping to find him a position and give him 600 at-bats.
-- Baltimore Sun

Reds manager Jerry Narron said Tuesday what had been speculated about for some time: Rich Aurilia wasn't re-signed merely as a utility player. He was signed as an insurance policy if 22-year-old Edwin Encarnacion doesn't work out at third base.
-- Cincinnati Enquirer

NFL

MLB

NBA

COLLEGE

NHL

SOCCER