NY Yankees will focus on own free agents before jumping into market  —  NEW YORK — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Monday that the team intends to address their own free agents before wading into the rest of the free agent pool.  —  “I don't want to make the mistake of having …

Miguel Cabrera joins Tigers' trade talks  —  Opening bids for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson have plainly been underwhelming, or Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager known for a fast trigger-finger, would by now have dealt at least one of two star players on the block during …

Twins have MVP catcher, but will they keep him?  —  For those Twins fans fearful that this year's MVP award will make it more difficult to keep Joe Mauer past 2010, General Manager Bill Smith tried offering some soothing words Monday.  —  “Do you think if he finished second, the price was going to come down?”

2009 NL MVP  —  It's Unanimous: Cardinals' Albert Pujols Wins Again  —  St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was a unanimous choice in winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award for the second consecutive season and the third time in his career.

Angels and Dodgers look into acquiring Toronto's Roy Halladay  —  Both clubs are interested in the ace right-hander, although the possibility of the Dodgers landing him is called ‘a long shot.’  —  Roy Halladay, a 32-year-old right-hander, has a 148-76 record and 3.43 earned-run average in 11 big league seasons.

Jimmy Clausen involved in altercation outside a South Bend, Ind., bar  —  Source says Notre Dame QB suffered a black eye  —  Jimmy Clausen avoids a sack by Connecticut's Twyon Martin and Jesse Joseph.  (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images / November 21, 2009)  —  As a tumultuous season draws …

Brewers sign Capuano, Halama  —  Pair of lefties looking to make Major League comebacks  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers picked up a pair of veteran left-handers for depth on Monday, re-signing former All-Star Chris Capuano and adding newcomer John Halama to the organization on Minor League contracts …

Hernandez, SNY reach an agreement  —  Commentator to remain with club, network through 2011  —  NEW YORK — The Mets have assured themselves of being an entertaining enterprise next season by agreeing to a contract with a skilled first baseman and hitter of significant resume.  —  Keith Hernandez is coming back.

Mets take ‘first’ look at veterans  —  The Mets continue to look at potential one-year platoon options at first base, reportedly checking in yesterday with well-traveled Russell Branyan and Nick Johnson.  —  Branyan, who turns 34 next month, is coming off a year in which he hit .251 …

Red Sox in a curious position  —  Voodoo economics and the Boras Market will make this an interesting winter in Boston  —  How well the baseball business is run was summed up at both the owners and agents meetings when all parties were informed that Major League Baseball revenues in 2009 held at $6.5 billion.

Pittsburgh Pirates Top 10 Prospects  —  Pittsburgh Pirates … After Neal Huntington became Pirates general manager late in the 2007 season, it didn't take him long to understand what the organization needed: young talent and lots of it.  Pittsburgh not only had a bad major league team …

Mets to wear new pinstripe home uniform in 2010  —  Jerseys go on sale this Friday at Citi Field during a special Thanksgiving sale  —  FLUSHING, N.Y. - The New York Mets today announced they will wear a new pinstripe home uniform next season inspired by the early years of the franchise.

AFL Notebook: Jansen Gives Dodgers New Conversion Project  —  GLENDALE, Ariz.—The Dodgers have shown a knack over the years for taking prospects and moving them to catcher.  Russell Martin is the most successful example, a third baseman who moved behind the plate in 2003.