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 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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Pettitte: Bring me back, y'all  —  Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in ...  Andy Pettitte told a Houston television station that he wants to return to the Yankees in 2009.  “I'd like to play again,” he said.  “My thoughts are there.”  —  This comes as no surprise, as Pettitte said much the same during the season.

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.

Agent: Lyon could return to D-backs  —  Reliever open to closer or setup role, depending on team  —  PHOENIX — D-backs reliever Brandon Lyon filed for free agency on Monday, but his agent, Barry Meister, said not to count out a return to Arizona.  —  For now, though, Lyon will field offers …

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 …

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.

Feller  —  I was 13 of 14 years old the first time I talked to Bob Feller.  This was at a baseball card show in North Carolina, and he was sitting behind a table and preparing to sign autographs.  In memory, he was charging to sign those autographs, but charging so little that it hardly seemed worth …

GMs' meetings: The Mets and Raul Ibanez  —  The Mets have reached out to the agents for free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, two sources told me today.  Brothers Sam and Seth Levinson represent Ibanez.  —  While the Mets continue to prioritize pitching, they are looking at offensive upgrades, particularly in the outfield.