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 …

Mets will be serious bidders for Lackey  —  The Mets intend to be among the serious bidders for righthander John Lackey when baseball's free agents finally hit the open market next Friday at 12:01 a.m.  —  Photo credit: Getty Images |  John Lackey #41 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim reacts …

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.

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:

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Alfonzo yearns for one more Amazin' shot  —  Chasing a dream is what baseball is all about.  The years go by, the body and the work place change, but the mind remains focused on the dream.  Edgardo Alfonzo turned 36 this past week.  He is three days younger than Johnny

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 …

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.

New Cardinal rule: Stanford has better players than USC … Didn't they used to refer to that around here as the Hackett Years?  —  CARROLL SAYS he didn't discuss with Coach Jim Harbaugh at midfield after the game Stanford's attempt to go for two points after already scoring 48.