Yankees' Cashman to sign three-year deal  —  Brian Cashman has agreed to return as the Yankees general manager on a three-year contract, Newsday has learned.  —  Cashman deliberated over the decision about whether it was time to move on after 11 seasons as GM, but gave the Yankees an affirmative answer this afternoon.

Blasts from their past?  —  Teixeira, drafted by Sox, didn't sign  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - If you could pick about five hitters in baseball who could be tagged with the label “perfect for the Red Sox,” Mark Teixeira likely would have his name in capital letters.

Players To Be Named  —  Today we acquired RHP Eduardo Perez and LHP Michael Watt from the Dodgers in exchange from Greg Maddux.  —  Eduardo is a 20-year old, 6'2" right-hander from Venezuela.  Our scouting reports indicate that he has an advanced feel for pitching, throws consistent strikes …

After Yankees' ‘insult,’ Torre in a golden state with Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — Joe Torre stood in the Dodger Stadium infield, looked up at the fans screaming in jubilation, and slammed his eyes shut to stop the tears.  —  This is what it feels like to be appreciated again.

D-Backs found ways to lose this year  —  The easiest way to put it, when assessing the disappointment of the Diamondbacks season, is to call them underachievers - to say that the overachieving bunch that last year found ways to win somehow found ways to lose this year.

Padres ‘leaning’ toward Giles' option  —  Towers discusses exercising $9 million clause for right fielder  —  SAN DIEGO — Nothing is definitive, but Padres general manager Kevin Towers said Tuesday that the team is leaning toward picking up right fielder Brian Giles' $9 million option for 2009.

Phillies' Burrell leaves practice with sore back  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell (burl) left today's workout with a sore lower back, a day before Philadelphia opens the NL playoffs.  —  The Phillies and Milwaukee play Game One of their division series tomorrow afternoon.

Lee, Lidge earn Comeback Awards  —  Tribe ace, Phillies closer easily outdistance competition  —  Cliff Lee, who was the American League leader in wins and ERA, and Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge, who converted 41 of 41 save opportunities to help the Phillies win a second consecutive National …

Cubs pick up Piniella's option for 2010  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Manager Lou Piniella plans to stick with the Chicago Cubs for a while.  —  The Cubs picked up the option on Piniella's contract for 2010 on Tuesday, a day before the NL Central champions open the playoffs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

An Interview With Manny Acta  —  Thank you so much for both the kind words and the suggestions.  It's a challenge, of course, to jump into a beat midseason, and I know I took my lumps this year.  Plus, Barry didn't just leave behind big shoes to fill; he left behind size 16 Timberland boots.

Red Sox Nation beginning to wear thin  —  OK, I'll give the Red Sox the whole nation thing.  —  Hard not to after following Boston through the playoffs last year and watching the throngs of faithful who always seem to show up no matter where they're playing.

Lincoln addresses failures from his self-described ‘hot seat’  —  After an unexpectedly disastrous 101-loss season, Mariners chairman and CEO Howard Lincoln and president Chuck Armstrong have endured heavy criticism for their roles in the club's worst season in 25 years.

The Dodgers have the best offense of any NL playoff team  —  Don't believe me?  I don't blame you.  The Dodgers scored 4.32 runs per game in the regular season, well below average.  But there are a few problems with looking at that figure.  First, the Dodgers are not the same team today that they were in April.