Not catching many offers  —  Varitek, Rodriguez deal with age issue  —  There was a time not long ago when if Pudge Rodriguez and Jason Varitek were both available in the free agent market, there would be a stampede for their services.  Now, there's barely a whisper.

Teixeira and a stand-up guy  —  New Yankee Mark Teixeira should slip comfortably into pinstripes - he's a big-city guy who idolized Don Mattingly and once harbored contempt for the hated Red Sox.  —  The 28-year-old first baseman is known as a humble, hardworking ballplayer …

Tampa Bay Rays' scouting expands worldwide  —  When the Rays this month announced plans to start an academy in Brazil, it might have turned a few heads.  —  To Carlos Alfonso, it's just the beginning.  —  The Rays' director of international operations said the club's footprint …

Brady behind schedule in recovery from surgery  —  Pats must consider keeping Cassel because star QB's knee won't be whole  —  Tom Brady's slow march toward recovery puts the Patriots in a dilemma as they try to decide whether to put the franchise tag on Matt Cassel.  —  Matty's musical tribute to Brady

Unit wants to savor time with Giants  —  Johnson realizes 2009 could be swan song to his Hall of Fame career  —  SAN FRANCISCO — If 2009 is Randy Johnson's final Major League campaign, he intends to cherish it.  —  The “Big Unit,” known through most of his 21-year career as a glowering …

From Walt Jocketty 12.27  —  Just got off the phone with Walt Jocketty about Taveras and some other things.  —  On whether this signifies a change in the Reds' philosophy, going with a speed guy and not really replacing some of the big bats that left: “It's more of what was available for us and what we had to do to improve the club.

Catching up with Wade and McLane  —  I hope everyone had a happy holiday season and will have a great new year.  I had the opportunity to visit for a little while with Astros general manager Ed Wade and owner Drayton McLane the day after Christmas, and our conversations ran the gamut …

Peavy trade not probable, but organization will listen to offers  —  Jake Peavy, shown throwing against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19, 2007, continues to dominate the Padres offseason.  —  Will the Padres trade Jake Peavy?  —  Not likely, Padres CEO Sandy Alderson said after trade talks with the Cubs collapsed this month.

Money can't buy you World Series Rogers' MLB whispers  —  Impatience rarely is rewarded in baseball.  —  It happens, sure.  The World Series the infant franchises in Florida (1997) and Arizona (2001) won come to mind.  But there have been a lot more spectacular failures than successes …

Search party  —  Red Sox scouts are always on the lookout for talent  —  NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Blair Henry sticks his video camera through an opening in the fence along the third base side.  He shoos away the players in the dugout who happen to wander into view.  He'd like to get this shot; he might need it later.

Reds sign Willie Taveras  —  The Cincinnati Reds filled their leadoff hole by signing free agent outfielder Willy Taveras to a two-year deal.  —  Taveras, who turned 27 on Christmas Day, hit only .251 with a .308 on base average with the Colorado Rockies, but stole 68 bases in 75 tries.

Orioles: Catching up  —  Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is in Florida for a few days of R&R, so there probably won't be much going on until after New Years Day, but I'm pretty sure he'll still be trading phone calls with the representatives of some of the remaining free agents.

Andruw Jones seeks contact in the D.R.  —  Buzz up!  —  SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic - Andruw Jones' search for solid contact has landed him in the heartland of a baseball-crazed country that isn't his own, accumulating at-bats in the dead of winter.  —  The skills that made Jones a five …