11.   A major stumbling block in any potential deal for Sheffield is the awesome contractual burden the Mets would assume.

12.   A potential deal with the Red Sox could include outfielder Carl Everett, who would be the run-producing outfielder the Angels need.

13.   A potential deal to send infielder Todd Zeile to the Colorado Rockies hit a roadblock Wednesday.

14.   A report out of Chicago said Sosa had already rejected a trade to L.A., but a source said all potential deals are in the early stages.

15.   Agents say Jets management is telling them not to speak with reporters about potential deals and that if they do, there will be repercussions.

16.   Business associates of the owner said that in his negotiations with Dolan, Steinbrenner had already established that element of the potential deal.

17.   But for all the telecommunications market forces pointing toward a new wave of mergers, each company must assess each potential deal on its own idiosyncratic terms.

18.   But Beattie will not allow the Yankees to negotiate with the pitcher, a free agent after next season, before a potential deal.

19.   But Pitino filed a protest after learning Cage was involved in the potential deal with the Nets, thus prolonging the swap between the teams.

20.   But since Comcast made its offer, the range of potential deals has only expanded.