Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
Indians avoided arbitration with SS Asdrubal Cabrera by agreeing to a one-year, $4.55 million contract.
Cabrera had asked for $5.2 million when figures were exchanged, while the Indians countered at $3.75 million, so they settled a little above the midpoint. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported earlier Friday that little progress had been made between the two sides, but evidently they closed ground in a hurry, allowing the Tribe to avoid their first arbitration hearing since 1991. Both sides are interested in a long-term extension, but for now they'll settle for the one-year pact. Cabrera is slated to hit free agency after the 2013 season.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Indians and representatives for Asdrubal Cabrera have made "little progress" on a deal and are likely to go to arbitration early next week.
Cabrera is seeking $5.2 million for the 2012 campaign, while the Indians have countered at $3.75 million. It was reported earlier this month by Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 in Cleveland that the Tribe had a multi-year contract offer on the table for Cabrera, but it appears the proposal hasn't enticed the shortstop. The Indians haven't gone to arbitration with a player since 1991.
According to MASN's Roch Kubatko, the Orioles are close to a minor league deal with Nick Johnson.
Johnson would probably prefer to sign with a better organization, but he has not attracted much interest on the open market this winter and may ultimately have to settle for a depth job with the O's. The 33-year-old batted just .201 with a .654 OPS in 225 plate appearances last season in the Indians' minor league system. He hasn't appeared in a big league game since 2010.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mets have "pretty much stopped pursuing" left-handed hitting outfielders and will instead see what falls through the cracks from other teams during spring training.
The Mets were reportedly interested in Rick Ankiel, but he signed a minor league deal with the Nationals over the weekend. They have also been mentioned in connection with the likes of Kosuke Fukudome, Johnny Damon and Raul Ibanez, but it's doubtful they are willing to offer much in the way of guaranteed salary. As of now, it appears Adam Loewen and Mike Baxter will battle for a job as a left-handed bat of the bench during spring training.
The consequences of Dominican ballplayers caught using a false identity include ''ineligibility to enter the United States for life,'' according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Plain Dealer notes that comments made by consul general William Weissman Tuesday ''may have been premature'' and that the U.S. Consulate has backtracked in regard to the individual cases of Fausto Carmona and Leo Nunez (Juan Carlos Oviedo). Both Carmona and Nunez are cooperating with the U.S government, but it is still unknown if they will be able to get a visa to enter the United States.
Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 in Cleveland reports that the Indians have a multi-year contract offer on the table to Asdrubal Cabrera.
It's not clear how much it's for, and Camino says the two sides won't finish a contract Friday and could still end up just settling on a one-year pact. Cabrera is looking to cash in on a long-term deal after a breakout 2011 season where he batted .273/.332/.460 batting line with 25 homers, 92 RBI, 17 stolen bases and a .792 OPS. He's under team control through 2013.
Indians general manager Chris Antonetti revealed Friday that the team is negotiating a long-term extension with Asdrubal Cabrera.
Antonetti says any deal must align "in value and term." It's no surprise that Cabrera is looking to cash in on an extension following a career year, but it might be wise for the Indians to see what he does in 2012 before handing him a boatload of cash. The 26-year-old is in his second year of arbitration, requesting $5.2 million and having the Indians counter at $3.75 million when figures were exchanged last month.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
