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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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:

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.

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.

Umpire John Hirschbeck forgives Robbie Alomar, but will Hall of Fame voters forget?  —  With the release of the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee ballots about to renew the debate on such emotion-inspiring figures as former players union chief Marvin Miller and Billy Martin, among others …

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.

Rumor Mill: F-Mart for Granderson?  —  According to multiple reports, the Tigers are looking to cut payroll this off season and could possibly trade OF Curtis Granderson, who will earn $26 million over the next three seasons.  —  The Mets appear to be interested in Granderson, according to reports …

Pay the price for Gonzalez  —  The “2010 Baseball America Prospect Handbook” arrives in bookstores and mailboxes in late January, but the tease comes roughly a month earlier: The list of the Red Sox' top 30 prospects is set to be revealed on the BA website Dec. 14.  —  So there you go.

Hideki Matsui would be ‘disappointed’ if he doesn't return to Yankees next year  —  Hideki Matsui says his “feelings are still with the Yankees” but he doesn't know whether the Bombers will re-sign him.  —  And, Matsui acknowledged, it would be disappointing if he did not play an eighth season in pinstripes.