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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Torre was rooting for Yanks in World Series  —  Dodgers' manager excited familiar faces won Fall Classic  —  NEW YORK — Joe Torre knew he was probably supposed to be pulling for the Phillies in the World Series.  But in the end, he wound up cheering just as hard as ever for Joe Girardi and the Yankees.

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.