McGwire eligible for Hall

Mark McGwire, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. headline the first-time candidates on the 2007 baseball writers’ Hall of Fame ballot released Monday, sure to spark debate on McGwire’s place in history as the steroid era comes under scrutiny.

The Associated Press contacted about 150 of the approximately 575 people who are eligible to cast ballots. Of that number, 125 responded. Of those, 74 said they will not vote for McGwire, 23 will vote for him, 16 are undecided, five refused to say, five aren’t allowed to vote by their employers and two will abstain.

That means if all the undecideds and those refusing to say voted for McGwire, and everyone else voted, McGwire would need 84% of the rest to get into the Hall.

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Adam Kennedy could be reunited with former double-play partner David Eckstein in St. Louis if the free-agent second baseman, who in October completed his seventh season with the Angels, accepts a three-year offer, believed to be in the $15-million range, from the Cardinals.

Eckstein, the most valuable player of the Cardinals’ World Series victory over Detroit in October, was the shortstop on the Angels’ 2002 championship team.

Though St. Louis appears to be the favorite to land Kennedy, the Toronto Blue Jays and a third team, which neither Kennedy nor agent Paul Cohen would reveal, are also in the hunt. As of Monday afternoon, only the Cardinals had extended a formal offer to Kennedy.

Mike DiGiovanna

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The Boston Red Sox are making progress toward signing free agent J.D. Drew, a move that could give them enough outfield options to be in a better position to trade Manny Ramirez.

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Starting pitcher Adam Eaton and the Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement on a $24-million, three-year contract. Eaton pitched for the Texas Rangers last season.... Promised Cleveland’s starting job in left field, free agent David Dellucci has reached preliminary agreement on an $11.5-million, three-year contract with the Indians.... First baseman Ross Gload and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a $625,000, one-year contract.... As expected, reliever Danys Baez signed a $19-million, three-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles after passing a physical.... The San Francisco Giants were nearing deals that would bring back infielder Rich Aurilia and reunite center fielder Dave Roberts with his former manager in San Diego, Bruce Bochy.... Catcher Chad Moeller, who was with Milwaukee last season, agreed to a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.