Sox see Yankees outfielder as leadoff man  —  INDIANAPOLIS — White Sox general manager Ken Williams has said it before, and he said it again.  —  “We don't have any money,” Williams said Wednesday during his meeting with the media.  “We're close to our budget right now …

Bay Over Holliday?  Not So Fast.  —  I've come out of the woodwork for a brand new blog, because I've come across some interesting data, and I think it'd be just plain selfish of me not to share it with my Mets brethren.  —  While the media is busy debating whether or not the Mets less …

Possible Non-Tenders To Watch  —  Baseball's non-tender deadline is tomorrow at 11pm CST, and MLBTR will of course have full coverage.  Arbitration-eligible players, who typically have at least three but fewer than six years of big league service time, are sometimes cut loose to become free agents before reaching six years.

Chicago White Sox sign reliever J.J. Putz to 1-year deal  —  The White Sox signed relief pitcher J.J. Putz to a one-year, $3 million contract on Friday.  —  Putz can make another $3.25 million in incentives, but that figure is based on him closing games all season.

Phillies boldly raising the bar in NL … INDIANAPOLIS — After Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin just spent $37.25 million to get veteran pitchers Randy Wolf and LaTroy Hawkins, he had an interesting take on what has happened to the level of competition in the National League.

Torrealba, Rockies now $400,000 apart in talks  —  DENVER — Pudge Rodriguez has never played an inning for the Rockies.  Neither has Ramon Hernandez.  But in many ways, they hold the key to Yorvit Torrealba's return to the Rockies.  —  According to information obtained this morning …

Sox Will Tender a Contract to Kotchman  —  While there had been some speculation that the Red Sox might choose not to tender a contract to Casey Kotchman by Saturday's deadline to do so, multiple major-league sources say that the Red Sox have absolutely no plans to part ways with the first baseman.

The New York Mets Respond To My Letter  —  Last week I sent a letter to Fred Wilpon explaining why I was not going to renew my ticket plan in 2010.  I also copied several members of Mets management and a few members of the media.  (You can read my letter here).

Winter meetings winners and losers  —  INDIANAPOLIS - The uncertain economy is the ultimate party-pooper, a real spoilsport.  We've all had to acknowledge it on some level.  Baseball did so this week at its annual winter meetings, often a time of frenzied spending on free agents …

Cubs land Minors righty Mota from Nats  —  Chicago sends cash considerations for Rule 5 Draft pick  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs made a trade Friday, but not the much-publicized one talked about all week at the Winter Meetings.  —  Chicago acquired Minor League right-handed pitcher Arismendy Mota from Washington for cash considerations.