Angels pitching coach Bud Black met with top Padres executives on Tuesday for a second interview, a strong indication that the San Diego State graduate has emerged as a finalist to be the team's manager.



Rangers owner Tom Hicks did not rule out the possibility of signing Barry Bonds. Though Bonds can be a lightning rod, new manager Ron Washington knows him and believes he could be a huge impact player.



The Mets' No. 1 priority is a No. 1 starter, and they have Dontrelle Willis of Florida and Jake Peavy of San Diego on their radar.



The Mets still have significant interest in re-signing Guillermo Mota, despite last week's revelation that the reliever will miss the first 50 games of 2007 after failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs. A person familiar with the Mets' thinking told Newsday Tuesday that the club was impressed with the accountability that Mota exhibited for his transgression.



The Red Sox have made several calls to free agents, including Barry Zito, Jason Schmidt, and Ted Lilly, but Theo Epstein would not confirm whether they made a bid for Japanese righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka, though some baseball executives feel the Sox are in the thick of it.



Sources say the Cubs are among the bidders for Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Yankees are expected to make the highest bid, with the Red Sox, Rangers and Cubs also expected to make rich offers.



Desperate for bullpen help, the Marlins inquired about Yankees free agent Octavio Dotel, who returned in August after elbow surgery.



It's clear that the Angels are likely to pursue third baseman Aramis Ramirez and center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. Add pitcher Barry Zito to that list.



According to a club source, the Orioles continue to hear from teams inquiring if All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada is available, and their stance has not changed. The Orioles are not shopping the shortstop, whom they plan to use to help recruit other free agents this offseason, yet will at least listen if other teams are intent on making an offer. It probably would take three players for the Orioles to trade him, with a top-of-the-rotation pitcher being a prerequisite in most deals.