Opportunities knock for Yanks & Mets as others tighten fists  —  The GM Meetings lasted just one whole day and parts of two others in a Chicago airport hotel that had all the charm of Eric Mangini.  —  “By the time you unpacked, you were packing again,” one general manager said.

As A.L.-N.L. Gap Widens, General Managers Tread Cautiously  —  CHICAGO — His shoulders shrugged.  His lips pursed.  But Kenny Williams bit his tongue one syllable too late.  —  “A guy going from the American League to the National League, no disrespect, but. ... ”

The Yankees Didn't Buy the World Series  —  Since 2004, 20 of baseball's 30 teams have made the playoffs.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Judging from the media coverage, it seems that the only thing the Yankees didn't do on their way to buying the 2009 World Series is ask the federal government for a bailout.

Bottom line: Boras hounds owners that he says are crying wolf  —  Agents and teams have fought like cats and dogs for years, but there may never have been a time when the opinions were more divergent on the topic of spending money.  —  The Tigers, intent on cutting payroll …

Inbox: Riggleman right man for job?  —  Beat reporter Bill Ladson answers Nats fans' questions  —  What did you think about the Nationals making Jim Riggleman the permanent manager?  —  It was a great move, because there is going to be discipline and accountability on the team …

Twenty-five years after his phenomenal rookie season, Dwight Gooden takes aim at his demons  —  Nobody hangs up Ks for Dwight Gooden anymore.  A mural of him - in mid-windup - no longer occupies the whole side of a building in Times Square.  —  More than half his life has passed since …

Phils weigh options as free agency looms  —  Park, Eyre likely to return; Pedro not expected to be back  —  PHILADELPHIA — Let's catch up with where the Phillies stand as teams can sign free agents beginning Friday.  —  First, some important dates to know:

Book excerpt: Evaluating Baseball's Managers, 1876-2008  —  For the next few weeks, THT will publish excerpts from my new book Evaluating Baseball's Managers, 1876-2008, which is scheduled for release in December, but can be ordered now.  Please note, as an added bonus, and for a special limited time only …

Clone Wars: Jonathan Sanchez and Clayton Kershaw  —  This doesn't follow my normal comparison as I usually have two players with similar stat lines and try to explain why one player might be better or more surprising.  This time I found two players who couldn't have looked more different in 2009 …

No lack of interest in Angels pitcher  —  Free agent Lackey being courted by several teams  —  All eyes were on John Lackey as a 23-year-old rookie when he won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series, and all eyes are on him seven years later now that he's finally a free agent.

McGehee proud to be included in ROY talks  —  Third baseman led NL rookies in RBIs in debut campaign  —  MILWAUKEE — Baseball's Rookie of the Year Award winners will be unveiled Monday, but Brewers third baseman Casey McGehee won't be sitting next to the phone.

Report of Carl Crawford wanting out of Tampa Bay is false  —  With trade rumors already circulating about All-Star leftfielder Carl Crawford, now there's an apparently false, unattributed report from the NY Baseball Digest that suggests Crawford wants out of Tampa Bay.