Phillies sign LHP Romero to three-year extension  —  PHILADELPHIA (TICKER) — The defending National League East Division champion Philadelphia Phillies have locked up one of the more consistent members of their beleaguered bullpen.  —  Philadelphia signed lefthander J.C. Romero to a three-year contract extension on Saturday.

2 FOR THE MONEY  —  BIG YANK OFFERS AT HAND FOR JORGE, MO  —  Within the next 48 hours, the Yankees are expected to make new contract offers to two of their biggest free agents.  —  The Yankees' exclusivity period with both Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera ends after tomorrow …

In the projection room  —  Stat book gives '08 sneak preview  —  Jacoby Ellsbury is projected to bat .320 and steal 42 bases next season, according to the Bill James Handbook 2008, the kind of numbers that would make Ellsbury a strong candidate to be the American League's Rookie of the Year.

Cano could be the cost for Twins' Santana  —  Johan Santana is not yet officially on the trade market, but that seems to be an inevitability.  What isn't inevitable is that Santana, now property of the Twins, will begin his 2008 season somewhere besides the Metrodome.

No gold mine in free agency has GMs wary  —  Talent burns like rocket fuel in sports, leaving the most challenging aspect improving a product or maintaining it.  A credit card used to be the solution, recruiting new players with promises of riches and great school systems.

Just horsing around, Huff says  —  Radio remark on city put in show's context  —  Once word reached Aubrey Huff that comments he made during a radio appearance last week brought waves of criticism from Orioles fans, he immediately came up with a theory to explain all the unwanted attention headed his way.

Roger Clemens Retires After Shutting Out White Sox  —  23-year-old Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens pitched the first complete game shutout of the majors this season, allowing just 5 hits and 2 walks, and striking out 8, in Boston's 6-0 win over Chicago Saturday night.

Mets should stay clear of A-Rod  —  Just because the Mets have been playing this whole Alex Rodriguez flirtation very coyly, refusing to confirm whether they're in or out, no one should think for a moment that Fred Wilpon is going to become Scott (Avenging Agent) Boras' latest "one dumb owner."

'A little kismet' and a lot of hope  —  ST. PETERSBURG - So, the Rays' offseason shopping list turns out to be a bit more extensive than a stopgap shortstop and some serviceable relievers.  —  With the Times' report Friday that the team has plans for a splashy new waterfront home at the site …

THE HAREN NOW  —  A'S STARTER WOULD BOLSTER AMAZIN'S  —  IF the Mets really wanted to make a splash and a statement in this city they would turn around and sign Alex Rodriguez, put him at shortstop and then use Jose Reyes in a trade to acquire the Twins' Johan Santana.

Guaranteed to have the angst of your life  —  As a literature professor at Hofstra with a PhD from Yale, Dana Brand has spent his career studying the great authors who have shaped American thought and culture.  Now he has taken on a much deeper, thornier topic:  —  Why on Earth would anyone be a Mets fan?

Front Office Changes, but Will the Pirates?  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates have endured 15 consecutive losing seasons, one season short of the record for futility, and this is how they decided to reverse their fortunes:  —  ¶  The club chairman hired a president who had never run a club or even worked for one.