Lou downplays interest in Peavy  —  NL manager of the year says primary need is lefty batter  —  The Cubs' interest in Jake Peavy appears to be only so much talk.  —  Manager Lou Piniella said as much Wednesday, when he nabbed the Cubs' second major postseason award by being voted the National League Manager of the Year.

White Sox GM might consider dealing Dye  —  Williams might trade slugging outfielder; Jenks not untouchable  —  In his attempt to field a younger and quicker team for the future, White Sox general manager Ken Williams and high-level staff members currently are evaluating talent at the Arizona Fall League.

Holliday bringing big bat to Oakland  —  A's finalize four-player deal with Rockies for three-time All-Star  —  OAKLAND — A's general manager Billy Beane has made no bones about it.  Since late in his club's 75-win 2008 season, he's said it time and again.

Mussina still mulling '09  —  Free agents can start receiving offers from teams at midnight Thursday.  Mike Mussina is one of those free agents, but the veteran pitcher still hasn't made up his mind about retirement.  —  Mussina, who won 20 games this year for the first time in his career …

Marte's deal fit the lefty market  —  Spoke to Brian Cashman tonight about the signing of Damaso Marte.  Basically it came down to this: They need a reliable lefty out of the pen and the deal they signed him to was a reasonable one.  —  How so?  Consider these contracts signed last winter by lefty relievers:

‘Baltimore’ is back: O's unveil new uniforms  —  Rallying for change, fans turn out as city's name is returned to road jerseys after 36-year absence  —  The look was a new one to Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Jeremy Guthrie, a trio Orioles fans hope will eventually make up the nucleus of a championship-caliber club.

Angels will let K-Rod go; Arte Moreno likes Manny Ramirez  —  Angels owner indicates that Ramirez could be pursued if the team can't sign Teixeira.  —  The chances of the Angels retaining record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez went from slim to virtually none today, with owner Arte Moreno saying …

Maddon, Piniella named top skippers  —  Two colorful characters tabbed AL, NL Managers of the Year  —  Joe Maddon and the man he succeeded as Tampa Bay manager, Lou Piniella, were named Managers of the Year in the American League and National League, respectively, by the Baseball Writers' Association …

Jack Morris: Babblefest 2009  —  Another year, another day to talk about the Hall of Fame candidate Jack Morris, known as the “pitcher of the decade”.  —  The best pitcher of the 1980s.  I'm sure you've heard that plenty, right?  About Jack Morris?  Just take some arbitrary 10-year period …

For free-agent pitchers, it's buyer beware  —  Historically speaking, we needn't look far to recognize that pitching can be as volatile as stocks, albeit on a far more consistent basis.  For every good long-term pitching deal that pans out, there are seemingly several that do not.

Deserving Halladay won't win Cy  —  The '08 AL Cy Young results are announced today and Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay deserves to win ... but won't.  Instead, Halladay's solid 20-11 record and 2.81 ERA will duke it out for second place with Angels reliever Francisco (K-Rod) Rodriguez and Daisuke …

YANKEES READY TO BLOW AWAY CC WITH BIG OFFER  —  THIS is not about flowers or candy.  This is about the diamond ring, and just how gaudy it is.  This is about the end game.  CC Sabathia does not need the Yankees to flirt with him.  He knows their intentions already.

Colletti denies Martin trade rumors  —  Dodgers GM wants to protect club's young nucleus of players  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are not trying to trade catcher Russell Martin, haven't yet spoken to the agent for free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia and are considering right-hander James McDonald for a bullpen role.

Weathers: Time to ‘turn page’  —  Free-agent reliever believes he won't return to Reds next season  —  CINCINNATI — Veteran reliever and free agent David Weathers is pretty convinced that his days with the Reds are over.  —  “As far as I'm concerned, I've flipped the page,” Weathers told MLB.com on Wednesday.

Torres retires after career year  —  Reliever's exit from baseball leaves Brewers without closer  —  MILWAUKEE — Add “closer” to the Brewers' list of offseason needs.  —  Salomon Torres, who emerged in May as a steady replacement for the unsteady Eric Gagne and went on to lead the team in saves …

Wright: Mets need ‘facelift’ after late collapses  —  NEW YORK — With the New York Mets coming off consecutive September collapses, David Wright is ready for a few significant changes.  —  “You go through two seasons that we've been through the last couple years and you're going to need …

Carl Pavano says he is open to returning to Florida Marlins  —  WEST PALM BEACH — Right-hander Carl Pavano says he is open to a reunion with the Marlins.  And wherever he winds up, Pavano is determined to shed his label as one of the biggest free-agent busts in baseball history.