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Mark Buehrle, who reportedly turned down a three-year, $35 million contract offer from the White Sox last summer, is a Missouri native and grew up a Cardinals fan. There's been scuttlebutt for more than a year that the Cardinals will make a run at him. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

One Chicago team never has wavered in its interest in Alex Rodriguez. The other Chicago team mostly has been linked through rumor and innuendo. Either way, every time Rodriguez does something big -- which has been happening daily this month -- his future comes to mind. -- Chicago Tribune

A left-hander with C.C. Sabathia's skills and résumé would look pretty good in Yankees pinstripes, and Sabathia is due to become a free agent after the 2008 season, at the age of 28. He has had talks with the Indians about a contract extension, but they haven't gone anywhere. -- Newark Star-Ledger

Gary Sheffield told the Globe in spring training that he would have signed with the Red Sox if Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had not picked up his option, and he thought that was the reason Cashman did it. -- Boston Globe

One reason the Red Sox stayed away from Washington's Chad Cordero is his penchant for being a heart-attack closer. -- Boston Globe

The Tigers asked about several southpaws in the offseason, including C.J. Wilson (Rangers), Pedro Feliciano (Mets) and Will Ohman (Cubs). It's highly unlikely that either Wilson or Feliciano will be moved. Ohman might be a different story. -- Detroit Free Press

Part of the reason the Phillies moved Jon Lieber into the starting rotation was the hope that he would pitch well and prompt some team to be interested in dealing for him. But another part was that they want to see how Brett Myers handles bullpen duty, because some in that organization view him as a potential closer of the future. -- Newark Star-Ledger

The Rangers have 10 days to either trade, release or outright Bruce Chen to the minors. They have made clear that they will try to trade him and likely will be able to because of numerous injuries to pitchers around the major leagues, including to the Yankees. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Randy Johnson is ready, and the left-hander's long-awaited return to the Diamondbacks will come on Tuesday against the Padres. Manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that Johnson will stay on his regular five-day schedule and will be followed in rotation by Brandon Webb and Livan Hernandez, who are each getting two extra days' rest because of Monday's off day. -- Arizona Republic

While Fox television analyst Joe Girardi said he enjoys what he's doing, he made it clear he would like to be back on the field, such as he was when he managed the Marlins last season. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Willy Aybar's mother, Angels star Vladimir Guerrero and others have been unsuccessful in attempts to contact the suspended Braves infielder, who has a substance-abuse problem and failed to show for a scheduled meeting in New York with Major League Baseball officials. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jason Schmidt is in a holding pattern with his recovery from shoulder inflammation, though the pitcher said he felt "definite improvement" since going on the disabled list Tuesday. Consensus among the physicians who reviewed the results of Schmidt's recent MRI exam was that rest and rehabilitation was the best course of action, but there was no timetable for his return. -- Los Angeles Times

If Twins center fielder Torii Hunter has the same type of season this year that he had last year (31 homers, 98 RBI), he can expect a four-year free-agent deal worth about $50 million, but not from the Twins. -- St. Paul Pioneer Press

Market value for a contract extension for Twins closer Joe Nathan, who is signed through next year, when he'll be paid $6 million, is $10 million a year. But it's unlikely the Twins would be willing to pay that much. -- St. Paul Pioneer Press

Cubs manager Lou Piniella made that clear Saturday in confirming that Alfonso Soriano will move from center field to left when he returns from his hamstring strain, likely on Monday. Who plays in the other spots could depend on who hits. -- Chicago Sun-Times

Brian Anderson was expected to start Saturday against Detroit left-hander Nate Robertson, but didn't. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he hasn't thought about sending his second-year outfielder to Triple-A Charlotte to guarantee him more work. -- Chicago Tribune

Project ''Unlikely Comeback'' continued moving forward for Toby Hall on Saturday. The injured White Sox reserve catcher had his first bullpen session catching right-handed pitcher Javier Vazquez. The initial feeling when he dislocated his shoulder diving for a ground ball in spring training was that the injury was season-ending, so it's no wonder Hall has been smiling a lot more these days. -- Chicago Sun-Times

Pitcher Kevin Slowey remains on a fast track at the Twins' Class AAA club in Rochester (N.Y.), winning both of his starts without walking a batter in 12 innings. Slowey's fastball has been timed at 93 mph on radar, but he's generally in the 89-mph to 90-mph range. -- St. Paul Pioneer Press

With an off day Monday, Cardinals righthanders Kip Wells and Braden Looper have been moved up to pitch Tuesday and Wednesday at home against Cincinnati, and lefthander Randy Keisler has been bumped back to pitch the final game of that series Thursday afternoon. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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