NY Yankees head into winter meetings with plans to lower budget … NEW YORK — The Yankees wrapped up their organizational meetings on Friday afternoon, allowing general manager Brian Cashman to focus his attention on filling his team's holes heading into baseball's winter meetings.

Brewers sign catcher Zaun  —  The Brewers didn't wait for the start of next week's Winter Meetings to make their first Major League free agent signing.  —  The team on Friday inked switch-hitting catcher Gregg Zaun to a one-year deal with a club option for 2011 in a move that signaled the end of Jason Kendall's tenure in Milwaukee.

These are better days for Scutaro  —  Today is a good day for Marco Scutaro, who is expected to complete a two-year deal with a mutual option that would pay him a minimum of $12.5 million to play shortstop for the Red Sox.  —  But I can't help but think back to Aug. 10, 2002 at the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects  —  Los Angeles Dodgers … The Dodgers' back-to-back National League West titles in 2008 and 2009 were in many ways a tribute to their scouting and player-development departments, even if the spotlight always seemed to shine on the antics of Manny Ramirez and the sage wisdom of manager Joe Torre.

Royals linked to Podsednik, Rodriguez  —  Moore's preference to upgrade through trades remains  —  KANSAS CITY — The Royals are searching for a center fielder, so there's little surprise that free agent Scott Podsednik might spark their interest.  —  The Kansas City Star reported on Friday …

David Wright one of Mets' mysteries  —  David Wright showing frustration during one game at Citi Field last season.  The wishful thinkers in the Mets organization are ready to call 2009 an aberration, but the question is why.  Wright is playing in a new ballpark he obviously hates …

Mariners On Verge Of Signing Chone Figgins  —  10:03pm: Not sure if this moves the story forward, but the AP says the Mariners and Figgins have a preliminary agreement on a four-year, $36MM deal.  —  9:21pm: Brown tweets that “Angels officials concede (that) Figgins (is as) good as gone to M's.”

The Mets Sign Henry Blanco  —  So, the Mets signed Hank Blank to a 1-year $1.5 million contract yesterday.  The reaction was predictable—déjà vu all over again.  And while giving a 38-year-old backup catcher a $1.5MM contract has shades of the Alex Cora deal …

Rox could shift to Hawkins if Betancourt departs  —  The Rockies have developed a contingency free-agency plan if they are unable to sign Rafael Betancourt, given their conservative return date for Taylor Buchholz.  —  LaTroy Hawkins, a key member of the 2007 bullpen, has become a top target along with Oakland's Justin Duchscherer.

The 10 worst baseball contracts of the 2000s  —  Baseball knows how to do the disastrous contract better than any other sport.  There is an overflowing graveyard of doozies, terrain teeming with wasted dollars and disappointments.  And nothing empowered the inborn idiocy of bad baseball executives quite …

Sabean: Giants don't plan on Molina or Posey as Opening Day catcher  —  Bengie Molina suiting up as the Giants' Opening Day catcher in 2010 no longer seems realistic.  That goes for Buster Posey, too.  —  Molina is heading out the door, seemingly comfortable he'll get the multiyear contract …

Brewers want to keep Counsell  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  I spoke with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin last night in advance of the annual winter meetings next week in Indianapolis.  He said his focus remains on acquiring starting pitching help but said he also plans …

Wren heading to Indy with a shorter shopping list  —  Now that we know that Tiger Woods wasn't slipping out in the middle of the night to take advantage of one of last week's door-buster sales, it's time to focus on the remaining shopping list that Braves general manager Frank Wren …

Top five plotlines of MLB winter meetings … Every other week of every other year, the big names in beautiful downtown Indianapolis are Peyton Manning, Larry Bird and Helio Castroneves.  —  But not next week.  —  Next week, we can pretty much guarantee that the name uttered …

Rangers claim Inglett off waivers  —  Addition gives Texas more options in the infield  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers have added another candidate for the utility infielder role by claiming infielder Joe Inglett off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  Inglett joins Esteban German …

Dodgers come to terms with RHP Justin Miller on a minor-league deal  —  Right-hander Justin Miller has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Dodgers, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.  The deal includes an invitation to spring training.

Wherever He Pitches, Staten Island's Jason Marquis Wins  —  If he wanted, Jason Marquis could live where pool covers go unused.  Maybe on a prime piece of oceanfront property or in a golf course-abutting mansion out West, popular choices among his friends in baseball.