Sources: Orioles revisit trade talks for Pie  —  Team could land Cubs outfielder in three-way deal with Padres, who would send RHP Peavy to Chicago  —  The Orioles have revisited trade talks with the Chicago Cubs about multi-tool outfielder Felix Pie, according to industry sources …

City Pressed Hard for Use of Yankee Luxury Suite  —  The Bloomberg administration was so intent on obtaining a free luxury suite for its own use at the new Yankee Stadium, newly released e-mail messages show, that the mayor's aides pushed for a larger suite and free food …

Lowe in win-win situation  —  He'll strike it rich with a contender  —  He spent Thanksgiving with his family in Fort Myers, Fla., watching his beloved Detroit Lions lose again, working out like a fiend with former Red Sox and Pedro Martínez trainer Chris Correnti …

Kennedy impresses in Puerto Rico  —  Ian Kennedy is doing some nice work in Puerto Rico for the Indios de Mayaguez.  Here are his stats through four starts:  —  19.2 innings  —  11 hits  —  5 earned runs  —  1 home run  —  9 walks  —  18 strikeouts  —  Opposing BA: .169  —  WHIP: 1.02

Tampa Bay Rays plan extra rest for pitchers after long season  —  James Shields, with a 25-inning jump from 2007, was one of several Rays pitchers forced to work harder than ever.  —  Times]  —  If Rays fans don't see James Shields or Matt Garza pitching in games during the first week or so of spring training, they shouldn't worry.

Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009  —  Hank Sauer, my mother-in-law Gwen's favorite player as a kid.  —  Chicago Cubs Top 20 Prospects for 2009  —  All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.  Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get out of the top 10.

If Astros are having financial woes, Drayton should say so  —  Why can't Drayton McLane just be honest with us about his finances?  Does he think we're dumb?  Back when he was losing money and needed public cash for a new stadium, he had no problem talking about how Houston had to pony up to keep its baseball team.

Where are they now?  Former Met Jon Matlack  —  Many of the pitchers Jon Matlack works with now as the minor-league pitching coordinator for the Detroit Tigers have no idea how good Matlack was as a vital member of a sparkling Met rotation in the 1970s.  One former pupil who had been traded came running …

Happy Birthday, Minnie, No Matter Your Age  —  Depending on the source, Minnie Miñoso either turns 83 or 86 years old today.  —  Miñoso's actual age may or may not matter at this point.  What's most important is that he's alive and apparently doing well.

Royals Sign J.R. House  —  By Tim Dierkes [November 29 at 10:04pm CST]  —  According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the Royals signed catcher J.R. House to a split contract.  House, 29, hit .306/.378/.480 in 454 Triple A at-bats this year.  Back in the day, House was considered …