Yankees set to bring A-Rod back - on their terms  —  Alex Rodriguez may be headed back to the Bronx after all — but on the Yankees' terms.  —  Despite all of the back-and-forth posturing between the Yankees and A-Rod' camp, the Daily News learned today that the two sides have been discussing …

Wedge named AL's top manager  —  Fifth-year skipper rewarded following Indians' postseason run  —  CLEVELAND — The American League Manager of the Year Award, in principle alone, is not an honor that suits Eric Wedge.  —  After all, Wedge is the guy who refuses to even walk into fair territory …

Mets eyeing Torrealba-Castro combo  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  Paul Lo Duca appears out as the Mets' catcher, likely to be replaced by a tandem of Ramon Castro and Yorvit Torrealba, major-league sources say.  —  The Mets are expected to re-sign Castro on Wednesday, probably to a two-year deal.

Hunter to Dodgers just makes sense  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Dodgers are desperate for offense.  They want to upgrade in center field.  They need a veteran leader to mend their clubhouse.  —  Perhaps more than any club, they would benefit from the addition of Torii Hunter.

Red Sox, A's Japan-bound in 2008  —  Meeting marks fifth international MLB regular-season opener  —  NAPLES, Fla. — Major League Baseball is opening its regular season in Japan's 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome next March for the third time, it was announced on Wednesday, with the defending World Series-champion Red Sox facing the A's.

Cards express interest in Silva, Lohse  —  Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak underscored that the team's most pressing needs remain improving its pitching staff through acquiring at least one starting pitcher, and adding depth it obviously lacked during its just-completed third-place season.

Mo has Yanks in bind  —  The exclusive window of negotiations between the Yankees and Mariano Rivera has slammed shut, and the iconic closer is now at large in the free agent market.  —  And while it's anticipated a deal will be hammered out between the two sides, there's an element of hardball at work.

'A World Series team'  —  That's how Lou Piniella — who today will learn if he is Manager of the Year for '07 — sees the Cubs by '09, Gordon Wittenmyer reports  —  TAMPA, Fla. — For four games in 1961, Emeterio Cuesta played on the same American Legion Post 248 baseball team in Tampa …

Rays deny Crawford trade rumors  —  Even though Tampa Bay Rays vice president of baseball Andrew Friedman said earlier this month that there are no untouchable players on the team, the rumors out of Chicago that he is about to pull the trigger on a deal that would move Carl Crawford to the Cubs is just that, a rumor.

Cards willing to deal Rolen  —  The Cardinals no longer deny the increasingly obvious: Scott Rolen is in play.  —  General manager John Mozeliak confirmed Tuesday meeting with Rolen's agents and discussing the Gold Glove third baseman's availability for trade during last week's GM meetings in Orlando, Fla.

Glavine closer to returning to Braves  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  Tom Glavine's return to the Braves is getting closer.  —  Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, met Wednesday with Braves general manager Frank Wren over lunch in Phoenix, and Wren reiterated his desire for Glavine to rejoin the team.