Moss to the Patriots talk increase (ProFootballTalk/Boston Herald)

According to sources cited by ProFootballTalk and the Boston Herald, the New England Patriots are showing interest in trading for frequent malcontent Randy Moss, wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders.

John Tomase, the Herald writer, points out that Patriots’ locker room has several “high-character” vets that could keep the outspoken Moss in line and point to the job they did with now free-agent running back Corey Dillon, who asked for his release last week.

Pitcher fielding practice (by now the bane of the Detroit Tigers’ pitching staff this early March) is a staple of both the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues.

So are non-roster invitees you’ve never heard of (the other Edgar Gonzalez that’s in St. Louis Cardinals’ camp) or the ones that were superstars less than a decade ago (Swingin’ Sammy Sosa’s Traveling Salvation Show that’s based in Surprise, Arizona, home of the Texas Rangers) that toil away, yearning for baseball’s version of Willy Wonka’s golden ticket — a spot on the 25-man roster.

Then there is another passage of spring that happens annually: baseball predictions.

Pre-season baseball forecasts are something that’s not worth much more than the paper on which they’re printed. But they do serve as reminder of what can be (or in the Chicago Cubs’ case, might never be) for the upcoming season. We here at The Lead will try and de-construct each division periodically as we gain steam towards opening day, April 1 in St. Louis, Mo.

One thing is for sure — it’ll be good for a hearty laugh come World Series time.

News and notes you may’ve missed overnight…

Notre Dame QB Quinn finally works out for NFL scouts (AP/ESPN) Great idea: don’t go to the combine: make them come to you. Quinn didn’t take part in running drills due to an undisclosed knee injury.

Beckham injures knee, to undergo tests (AP/ESPN’s Soccernet) So you think MLS’ heart is skipping a collective beat right about now?

Small wonder - Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants can bring the heat (Yahoo! Sports) Jeff Passan profiles San Francisco pitcher Tim Lincecum and his awkward delivery that gets results.

Former Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton of Missouri dies (AP/CNN) Eagleton was primarily responsible for luring the Rams to St. Louis in 1994-1995.

Yao expects to return Monday for Rockets (AP/Yahoo! Sports) The Houston Rocket center has been out since December 23 with a broken leg.

Forde: Duke suffers black eye to image (ESPN.com) ESPN’s Pat Forde evaluates the state of the great Duke- Carolina rivalry after UNC star Tyler Hansbrough was elbowed in the face late in Sunday’s game by Duke guard Gerald Henderson.

Forbes lists the best general managers in pro sports (Forbes.com) Kevin McHale, GM of the Minnesota Timberwolves, got the top nod and we’re still dumbfounded at how they came up with it.