Mets expected to make offers soon  —  The Mets' true offseason strategy will reveal itself this week when general manager Omar Minaya finally extends offers to his top free-agent targets.  A person familiar with the situation did not specify which day Minaya will deliver the numbers to Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes.

Agents Are Honest  —  Daily News: … Francisco Rodriguez fastballs, 2008: 638  —  Francisco Rodriguez fastballs >96.0 mph, 2008: 2  —  Francisco Rodriguez, pitches to Raul Ibanez in September:  —  94  —  94  —  87  —  88  —  82  —  87  —  89  —  88  —  94  —  79  —  81

SEC Charges Mark Cuban With Insider Trading  —  The Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges against Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks, for allegedly dumping shares in Mamma.com upon learning it was raising money in a private offering (full text of complaint).

A good sign if Red Sox want Mark Teixeira  —  Attempting to ascertain the level of interest the Red Sox [team stats] have in free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira isn't easy.  The Red Sox steadfastly refuse to signal how hard - or even, whether - they will pursue the switch-hitting slugger.

Schoolgirl knuckleballer headed to Japan pro league  —  TOKYO (AFP) - A 16-year-old schoolgirl with a mean knuckleball has been selected as the first woman ever to play alongside the men in Japanese professional baseball.  —  Eri Yoshida was drafted for a new independent league that will launch in April …

METS BELIEVE IN SANTA CLOSE  —  LOOK FOR K-ROD OR FUENTES UNDER CITI FIELD TREE  —  CONTINUED  —  The Mets have been linked to Bobby Jenks.  But the trade price for him - which almost certainly would have to include top prospect Fernando Martinez - makes this a no-go.

It's the 2009 Hardball Times Baseball Annual  —  We have a little tradition going on here at The Hardball Times.  Once a year, we produce a book called The Hardball Times Baseball Annual.  We do it for a couple of reasons.  One, we miss the good old days of books like the Bill James Abstract …

Mussina to decide on retirement soon?  —  The Yankees hope 20-game winner Mike Mussina makes a decision soon about whether to retire.  (Newsday / Paul J. Bereswill)  —  The Yankees don't necessarily expect a quick resolution on their offer to CC Sabathia.

NL MVP Preview  —  The BBWAA announce the National League MVP award this afternoon, and the pundits seem to handicap it as a race between Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard.  However, that ignores a middle infielder with a great season, Hanley Ramirez.  —  There is no doubt Albert Pujols was the best hitter in the majors this season.

Free Agent Options: The Bullpen  —  While not unexpected, news of Pat Neshek's delayed decision to undergo Tommy John elbow surgery leaves the Twins without their top setup man for 2009 and makes addressing the bullpen's weakness an even bigger offseason priority.