MLB winter meetings: Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte to return in 2010, sources say  —  INDIANAPOLIS — The first step is complete for free agent left-hander Andy Pettitte's return to the world champion New York Yankees next season as they seek to repeat.  —  Pettitte

Pirates made less than $11 million past two years  —  Part 1: Management divulgues a profit level well below most estimates, insists it can show that all of it went back into baseball, not to owners  —  INDIANAPOLIS — The Pirates have made less than $11 million in profit over the past two years …

Mets GM Omar Minaya needs to focus on real issues at winter meetings, like dumping Luis Castillo  —  Oh, Omar.  The Mets re-signed Alex Cora for $2 million, but now the GM has big issues to handle at the winter meetings.  —  Backup infielder?  Check.  The Mets have re-signed Alex Cora for $2 million, with a vesting option for 2011.

Nationals Acquire Brian Bruney; Release Saul Rivera  —  12:51pm: The Nationals confirmed the deal via a press release.  They released Saul Rivera to make room for Bruney.  Rivera, 32 today, posted a 6.10 ERA in 38.3 innings for the Nats this year.  Releasing a man on his birthday...for shame!

Brian Bruney Braves Rumor  —  George A. King III of the New York Post talked to an official from a team interested in Yankees reliever Brian Bruney, and was told, “We asked about him but hear he is going to the Braves.”  The Braves would seem an odd match for Bruney, who is arbitration-eligible …