The Red Sox are contemplating a two-way trade that would send shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs for prospects, then use those prospects as part of a package to acquire left-hander Randy Johnson from the Diamondbacks, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
Garciaparra is a longtime star in Boston but became alienated from the franchise when it tried to trade him and replace him with the Rangers' Alex Rodriguez over the winter. Rodriguez ended up with the Yankees, also said to be interested in Johnson.
Meanwhile, Angels owner Arte Moreno seemed to pull his team out of the derby, expressing admiration for the five-time Cy Young Award winner but pledging to keep the core of his minor-league system intact.
Selig wavers on vow to retire when gig is up
HOUSTON - Commissioner Bud Selig appears to have changed his mind about leaving his job in 2006.
Selig has run baseball since September 1992 and has repeatedly said he intended to retire at the end of his term. But during an appearance Tuesday before the Baseball Writers' Association of America, Selig said his time in office has "at least 21/2 (years) and maybe more to go."
"As for my own personal situation, that's something that the future will decide," he said.
Selig said negotiations with the players' association on changes to the sport's drug-testing agreement are ongoing, calling them "constructive and intensive." He called for a change to the way baseball treats first offenses. A player who tests positive for a banned steroid initially is sent to counseling.
"You certainly, I believe, need a penalty on the first offense. I don't think there's any question," he said.
MONDESI CLEARED: A six-week investigation has uncovered no evidence outfielder Raul Mondesi skirted rules so he could abandon the last-place Pirates and sign with the Angels, Major League Baseball executive vice president Sandy Alderson said. The Pirates released Mondesi shortly after he returned to his native Dominican Republic to deal with a legal issue. The Angels signed him May 29, eight days after his release, when they were in first place.
CRYING FOUL: Baseball fans can sue if they are injured by a foul ball around the concession areas in New Jersey's minor-league ballparks. The state appeals court overturned a ruling, allowing a Newark man who was hit in the face by a ball while at a concession stand to sue the Newark Bears and the food service company.
OBITUARY: Ulysses J. "Tony" Lupien Jr., a major-leaguer player in the 1940s and a coach at Dartmouth College, died Friday in Norwich, Vt. He was 87.
