Jason Varitek to Exercise Player Option, Will Stay With Red Sox  —  The Red Sox declined to exercise their $5 million team option on catcher Jason Varitek on Monday, but that doesn't mean the longtime captain will be leaving Boston.  —  NESN learned on Monday night that the 37-year-old Varitek …

Mets underwhelmed by free agent market  —  GM Omar Minaya, Mets to look for power-hitter in weak market.  —  CHICAGO - The Mets have  —  so much to do this offseason.  They just wish their list of options looked more attractive.  —  “Some years are better than others,” …

MLB Free-Agent Compensation ‘Elias Rankings’ Released  —  CHICAGO — The annual Elias rankings are out, determining which free agents could result in draft-pick compensation for their former teams.  —  Free agents are classified as Type A, Type B or not at all.

Executives chime in on offseason topics  —  Sign Holliday or Bay?  Should instant replay be expanded?  And where will Lackey land?  —  ESPN.com  —  CHICAGO — Major League Baseball general managers have a demanding job marked by long hours, stifling pressure and constant second-guessing.

Mark Cuban says he'd be interested in buying the Dodgers  —  Cuban says he'd base a decision on his ability to buy a controlling share as part of an ownership group.  The Dodgers are not for sale, but the McCourt divorce raises questions about team's future.

Unloading Milton Bradley without paying steep price won't be easy for Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry  —  Even if Cubs eat salary, Hendry may struggle to find taker for OF  —  Cubs general manager Jim Hendr shakes hands with Milton Bradley.  (M. Spencer Green, Associated Press / January 8, 2009)

Phils still in the running for Halladay  —  CHICAGO - Ruben Amaro Jr. arrived at the annual general managers' meetings late this afternoon and listed his priorities for upgrading his team this off-season.  —  “Third base, bullpen, bench,” the Phillies' GM said in the lobby of the O'Hare Hilton, where the meetings run through tomorrow.

Tampa Bay Rays decision on option for LF Carl Crawford, and others, could come soon  —  View Photo Gallery: All-Star Carl Crawford  —  While the Tampa Bay Rays have already made some moves to shore up their 2010 roster (like re-signing RF Gabe Kapler), they have more decisions …

Veal Deals In AFL  —  Rule 5 pickup encouraging Pirates  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Scorpions pitching coach Bob Milacki had never seen Donnie Veal pitch before the Pirates lefthander arrived for the Arizona Fall League season.  He had read the scouting reports on Veal and knew …

Can rookie Sebastian Vollmer end the Matt Light Era at left tackle?  —  It's an old dilemma for a coach.  For Patriots fans and coach Bill Belichick, it goes back to up-and-coming Tom Brady vs. franchise QB Drew Bledsoe, circa 2001.  —  An established veteran goes down with an injury …

The triumph of Moneyball  —  Is there a word in the baseball lexicon that can start an argument faster than Moneyball?  It's not really a word, if you think about it, but then neither is the only other thing that springs to mind: DH.  It's odd that a book not called “The Bible” …

Yanks' Cashman Won't Be Swayed  —  CHICAGO - Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman made it clear Monday that even if Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon had gone 20 for 20 in the World Series with 10 home runs apiece, it would not change the team's thinking about how it would deal with the two impending free agents.

Jays add Dopirak, McCoy to roster  —  Third baseman claimed off waivers from Rockies  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays added a pair of players to their 40-man roster on Monday, selecting the contract of first baseman Brian Dopirak from Triple-A Las Vegas and claiming infielder Mike McCoy off waivers from the Rockies.