YANKS & METS FACE COMPETITION FOR FREE-AGENT ARMS THEY CRAVE  —  The Yanks also have indicated they will put a time limit on their six-year, $140 million offer for Sabathia.  But that is a worthless time limit.  They said last year they would not re-sign Alex Rodriguez if he opted out …

Derek Lowe eyes dollars, so Mets might try cheaper options  —  Derek Lowe is a hotter commodity in the free-agent market than the Mets envisioned, a development that is forcing them to rethink their plan of signing the 35-year-old righthander and plugging him into Oliver Perez's spot in the starting rotation.

On the Coast, it's very clear  —  Dodgers, Angels need to keep their sluggers  —  The Los Angeles teams can't afford to lose the best hitters on the free agent market: Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramírez.  And deep down, they know it.  —  Question is, can either afford to keep them?

Angels likely not on Teixeira's wish list  —  The free-agent first baseman seems to be leaning toward an East Coast team.  —  Recommend  —  Spraying to all fields, wondering what Angels fans want for Christmas:  —  Well, we found out this week what Angels free agent Mark Teixeira wants — a home for the holidays.

Red Sox Offer Tazawa $6M  —  Sanspo is reporting that Red Sox VP for international scouting Craig Shipley spent 1 hour 50 minutes negotiating with Junichi Tawaza, resulting in a $6M contract offer.  No word on whether it's a major league deal or not.  Details to follow...

Mariners want Silva to trim the fat  —  Silva, nicknamed the “Buffalo,” is on a postseason program to slim down  —  SEATTLE — Reports of the pounds Carlos Silva put on this year might not have been as exaggerated as his weight itself.  —  The right-handed starting pitcher's numbers grew …

Desert Dogs' AFL reign continues  —  Donaldson homers, drives in four as Phoenix tops Mesa  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Call it the coincidental dynasty.  —  Despite facing the best pitcher in the Arizona Fall League, despite having to keep the league's top offense at bay …

Gary Carter deserves a chance to coach in the big leagues  —  Maybe, just maybe, there's some truth to Gary Carter's suspicions that he has been blackballed in baseball.  —  How else do you explain his conspicuous absence from a game in which he has enjoyed so much success?

Yankees in need of a killer-instinct rotation  —  What the Yankees missed most of all in 2008, you sense from talking to people around the team, is that intimidation factor one gets only from possessing a strong, deep starting rotation.  —  When the Yankees rode the bus from their Toronto hotel …