Notes: Kearns could be on the move  —  Outfielder may be traded to deepen Nats' starting rotation  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said on Monday that there will be four players — Wily Mo Pena, Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes and Austin Kearns …

Brewers survey options on Day 1  —  Melvin discusses Rolen, needs for team at Winter Meetings  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin spent last week downplaying rumors that he is interested in trading for Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen.

Yankees might pull out of Santana talks for good … NASHVILLE — With the Yankee's self-imposed deadline approaching, the Twins and Yankees were getting nowhere Monday night in their attempt to complete a deal for Johan Santana.  So the Yankees were again making noises that they might pull out of the Santana talks for good.

Buzz: Mets work with O's on Bedard  —  During an appearance on WFAN, beat-reporter Sweeny Murti said, "There is news floating around that the Mets are close on Erik Bedard." … ...Update...8:45 pm...  ...earlier, i was sent on a wild-goose chase suggesting that the Mets could be working …

Bowden finally lands his prize  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Cubs are facing significant competition for their No. 1 target, Japanese free-agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.  The Padres have emerged as a serious contender for Fukudome, according to major-league sources.

Sources: Royals, Guillen closing in on deal  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Royals, plunging into the free-agent market for the second straight year, are working toward an agreement with outfielder Jose Guillen, according to major-league sources.

Lobby blogging: The Francona Rule  —  Red Sox manager Terry Francona officially has a rule named after him.  —  "There's going to be, for lack of a better term, a 'Francona Rule,'" said Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's Vice President of Rules and On-Field Operations.  "You can only wear your uniform top or jacket.

Santana speaks (sort of) and Twins are mad about Hanky-Panky.  —  The Star Tribune has just been contacted by Johan Santana's agent, Peter Greenberg.  —  Greenberg said Santana is mad after reading reports that he's ordered the Twins to trade him to either Boston or New York.

Santana?  —  A rotation featuring Beckett, Santana as the top two is pretty much as good as it can get.  The thought of pitching behind these guys has to fire ya up.  That being said I look at it like this.  —  If we make the move we'll have done so with Theo knowing whatever he had to trade …

Pettitte takes $16 million, adding to total  —  Just received an e-mail back from Randy Hendricks.  —  Andy Pettitte will play for his original $16 million next season.  There are no options.  He decided on Saturday, they talked it over on Sunday and now it's done.

The New Look Dodgers...An Interview with Ned Colletti  —  When I spoke with Ned Colletti back in January, he had only been General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers for about 14 months.  He had just watched his team finish a season with 88 victories and earn a Wild Card berth in the 2006 playoffs.

Santana and Yankees are close but not yet joined  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Monday evening bore down on The Steinbrenner Deadline, or the moment the Minnesota Twins supposedly will no longer be allowed to unload the best left-hander in baseball on the New York Yankees, and baseball's winter meetings began to skew even more toward pitching.