Amaro Jr. takes over reins for Phillies  —  Longtime assistant GM, former player replaces mentor Gillick  —  PHILADELPHIA — Ruben Amaro Jr. has been named the Phillies' new general manager.  —  The announcement was made at a 10 a.m. ET news conference on Monday in which team president …

JAY PARIS COMMENTARY: Big Apple or no, Peavy is a goner  —  The crowd settles into the seats at the new Yankee Stadium, as legendary public address announcer Bob Sheppard clears his golden throat.  —  “Your attention, please, ladies and gentleman,” booms Sheppard's deep voice, filling the South Bronx air.

Brewers bring back Cameron for '09  —  Team picks up center fielder's $10M option for next season  —  MILWAUKEE — Mike Cameron will be back in center field at Miller Park in 2009.  —  Facing a Monday deadline for their decision, the Brewers exercised a $10 million option to bring Cameron back for a second season in Milwaukee.

Holliday, Atkins, Taveras on block  —  DANA POINT, Calif. — Beyond the silky, 300-thread-count bedsheets, the marble bathrooms, potted plants and postcard views, the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort makes a promise: It will personalize to meet your needs.  —  So don't be surprised if …

Free agent rundown (cont.)  —  More Interesting Cases  —  21. Rocco Baldelli, outfielder.  Tampa Bay declined the option in spring, but he showed he can still play in spurts.  Very talented, and could be a bargain if his health improves.  —  22. Juan Cruz, reliever.  Hard thrower has closer stuff.

Phils sign Amaro as GM; Gillick to stay as advisor  —  PHILADELPHIA — Ruben Amaro Jr. became general manager of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, a quarter-century after he was the team's batboy.  —  Amaro, who signed a three-year contract, just completed his 10th season …

YES Network, Michael Kay extend relationship  —  NEW YORK — The Emmy Award-winning Michael Kay, whose voice has been synonymous with the YES Network since its launch in 2002, has signed a multi-year extension with the network to remain its lead New York Yankees play-by-play voice.

Cubs will take different path to improve  —  Jim Hendry came away from the general managers' meetings two years ago with the framework of a $136 million deal for free-agent left fielder Alfonso Soriano.  —  But as he heads into the GM meetings Monday in Dana Point, Calif. …

St. Louis Cardinals make offseason plans  —  DANA POINT, CALif. — Major League Baseball's free-agent market doesn't open for another 11 days.  Winter meetings are more than a month away.  Less than a week removed from the World Series' goofball ending, this technically represents a slow period for movement.

Fix the World Series?  Why bother with America's Afterthought?  —  Tell Gregg your opinion!  —  The truth of the matter is ... baseball just isn't that important anymore.  —  Baseball purists and constipated gripers — same thing, if you ask me — want to blame the 2008 World Series …