Mets pick up Delgado's option  —  First baseman under New York's control in '09 for $12 million  —  NEW YORK — The Mets have taken a procedural step that four months ago appeared to be beyond improbable and one month ago seemed to be a foregone conclusion: They have exercised their option on the contract of Carlos Delgado.

Tim Wakefield set to return  —  Sox to exercise option  —  Tim Wakefield spent the last 14 seasons with the Red Sox [team stats].  Today, the Sox are expected to officially invite him back for a 15th year.  —  Wakefield recently completed an end-of-year physical and MRI …

Vazquez has role as Sox trade bait  —  Right-hander Javier Vazquez had stood by his locker during the final days of the White Sox' postseason collapse, answering the same question over and over again without a hint of emotion or a sign of hesitation.  —  Did he want to be traded?  —  “No,” Vazquez said.

Sabathia a big target for Yanks  —  Yanks figure to be one of his suitors, may eye Teixeira, Ramirez  —  The Yankees can't officially negotiate financial terms with any free agents - aside from their own - until Nov. 14, but the countdown to the all-out pursuit of ace CC Sabathia is on.

End of year means Baldelli a free agent  —  Outfielder thanks Rays for sticking with him during illness  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Rocco Baldelli is a free agent now that the season is over, and on Thursday afternoon, the veteran outfielder said he did not know what to expect heading into the offseason.

Brewers prepare offer for Sabathia  —  Deal to be presented Friday; Sheets one of five to test market  —  MILWAUKEE — Five Brewers formally filed for free agency on Thursday as the team prepared a first offer for one who did not.  —  General manager Doug Melvin planned to submit …

Omar Minaya gears up for busy winter, inks Fernando Tatis  —  With the World Series finally out of the way, GM Omar Minaya officially can get to work retooling the Mets to compete with the world champion Phillies.  He has his work cut out.  —  Minaya's first order of business came Thursday …

It's never too early to start looking at 2009 Phillies season  —  The offseason technically began the moment Eric Hinske swung and missed.  —  For those who root, root, root for the Phillies, that means a hearty celebration that will gradually give way to a gentle afterglow that should warm …

Expect Blanco back with Cubs in 2009  —  Although the Cubs on Friday declined to exercise Henry Blanco's $3 million contract option for 2009, the team anticipates re-signing the backup catcher as a free agent for a lower guaranteed salary.  —  Blanco, who turns 38 next summer …

65 file on first day of free agency  —  Manny, Sheets, Teixeira biggest names to test early market  —  All-Stars Manny Ramirez, Ryan Dempster, Ben Sheets, Milton Bradley, Jason Varitek and Joe Crede were among the 65 players who filed for free agency Thursday, the first day of MLB's 15-day filing period for eligible players.

130-game baseball season?  Why not  —  There are age-old tribal conflicts that don't last as long as a major-league baseball season.  —  In the time it takes to get through the 162-game regular season and the slow-drip playoffs, you could write a chemistry textbook, crack a North Korean spy code …

Mets face harsh reality with Phillies' win  —  Rivalry grows with World Series championship in Philadelphia  —  NEW YORK — It was the morning after the night before, and echoes from downtown Philadelphia still were audible — even in Kansas.  Mike Pelfrey heard them Thursday, he considered the source and said, “OK, good for them.”

Her mention of the world-champion Phillies doesn't go over well with a crowd that has different loyalties.  —  A swing and a miss in Erie  —  It was a throwaway line meant to be a crowd-pleaser.  But it fell flat.  —  On Thursday at a rally in Erie, Pa., Sarah Palin touted the victors in the World Series to thousands of supporters.