Braves serious about Japanese pitcher  —  Dana Point, Calif. — While Braves officials continue their pursuit of Jake Peavy, they're also moving forward on other pitching fronts.  Namely one on the other side of the Pacific Rim.  —  I'm told the Braves have already offered a major league contract …

The latest updates from GM meetings … SI.com's Jon Heyman reports all week long from baseball's general manager meetings in California.  —  DANA POINT, Calif. — Star pitcher A.J. Burnett's agent Darek Braunecker will give the Blue Jays a final chance to re-sign Burnett in a meeting Tuesday afternoon …

Cashman still a Pavano fan  —  DANA POINT, Calif. - When Carl Pavano walked off the mound on Sept. 25, most people assumed it would be the last time he would ever wear a Yankees uniform.  —  Not so fast.  —  Pavano, one of the biggest free-agent busts of all-time, could wind …

Yankees decline '09 options on Giambi, Pavano  —  DANA POINT, Calif. — The New York Yankees declined their 2009 options on first baseman Jason Giambi and pitcher Carl Pavano on Tuesday, making the pair eligible for free agency.  —  Giambi will receive a $5 million buyout rather …

The 2008 Internet Baseball Awards  —  AL Results and Wrap-Up  —  It's time to announce the winners of the 17th annual Internet Baseball Awards.  More than 1,400 baseball fans from cyberspace participated in this effort to honor those players and managers whose performance in 2008 were most deserving.

Agent: Mets can save money with Brian Fuentes  —  DANA POINT, Calif. - Francisco Rodriguez may be the new single-season record holder after posting 62 saves with the Angels.  But the better free-agent value among closers is Brian Fuentes, according to agent Rick Thurman.

GM Towers seeks to end Padres' year of turmoil by dealing Peavy  —  Towers said Monday he's more concerned with quality than quantity, noting that to sell a Peavy trade to San Diego's beleaguered baseball fans, a return of two or three high-end players would trump receiving a batch of five or six marginal players.

Rays' Friedman tabbed Exec of Year  —  Sporting News recognizes Tampa Bay's improbable rise  —  DANA POINT, Calif. — For orchestrating one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of Major League Baseball, Andrew Friedman of the Tampa Bay Rays is The Sporting News' choice as Executive of the Year for 2008.

Tampa Bay Rays - 2008 MLB Organization of the Year  —  It seemed there was a never-ending stream of superlatives when it came time to describe our selection as the 2008 MLB Organization of the Year.  Unconventional, youthful, tenacious, coming of age, and plucky were but a handful.

Epstein going to work  —  Varitek's status high on agenda  —  THEO EPSTEINConfirms extension with Sox  —  DANA POINT, Calif. - Theo Epstein may have been one of the last to arrive at baseball's general managers' meetings yesterday, but it wasn't because he was slacking off.

No news, but plenty of rumors floating around the meetings  —  No, nothing of import has happened here at the St. Regis resort yet, but rumors continue to float around and the business of baseball never sleeps.  —  Manny Ramirez and agent Scott Boras have floated an asking price …

Carpenter undergoes nerve surgery  —  DANA POINT, Calif. — Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter underwent nerve surgery this morning similar to the procedure required by first baseman Albert Pujols last month, further complicating Carpenter's return from a series of physical setbacks that have plagued …

Wanna win?  Put Joba in pen  —  The Yankees used to dominate opponents by shortening the game.  If you didn't get 'em before Mariano and Co. came in, you weren't getting 'em at all.  —  This year, the Phillies dominated October the same way.  Get 'em before Brad “Coffin” Lidge and his setup men come in, or forget 'em.

Tigers expected to look at Furcal  —  The Tigers have not yet had formal discussions with the agent for Rafael Furcal, who just filed for free agency this week, but they're expected to enter the mix for the speedy shortstop.  How far they delve into the bidding should be telling for Detroit's approach this offseason.