Yankees' Damon remains left out  —  There was a vacancy sign placed above left field at Yankee Stadium yesterday, but Johnny Damon's outlook on returning hasn't changed any.  —  On the same day the Yankees sent Melky Cabrera to the Braves as part of a deal that added Javier Vazquez to the starting rotation …

Source: Braves give Glaus one-year deal  —  The Braves have reached agreement on a one-year contract with free agent Troy Glaus to play first base, according to a major-league source.  —  The deal, which also includes incentives, is pending a physical, the source said.

Baseball's Top 20 Prospects … Baseball America's Prospect Handbookis going to press, and it's hard to describe the book to my non-baseball friends (a short list, but I have had a few such discussions).  It's a book of 900 scouting reports on the game's top minor league players: 30 for each of the 30 major league organizations.

Source: the Pirates have made Octavio Dotel an offer  —  A source tells me that the Pirates have made an offer to Octavio Dotel to be their closer.  The offer: $3 million plus games-finished incentives.  Not a deal yet or anything, but it's out there.  —  Dotel has turned in back-to-back …

Source: Los Angeles Angels, Fernando Rodney agree to 2-year deal  —  Former Detroit Tigers closer Fernando Rodney and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal pending a physical, a source told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas.  —  The physical examination is scheduled to take place later Wednesday.

If “Baywatch” gets cancelled, here's eight options  —  For the Mets, there are already legitimate questions about whether Jason Bay is the right investment for their ballpark.  He is a below-average defender who hits for power and Citi Field is a place where deep fly balls and subpar outfielders will suffer.

Boston Red Sox Top 10 Prospects  —  Boston Red Sox … After winning the World Series in 2007 and losing in Game Seven of the American League Championship Series the following year, the Red Sox looked poised to make another title run in 2009.  —  They got off to a 51-34 start …

Read: The Mets All-Decade Team of the 2000s  —  Eric Simon of Amazin Avenue has started his look at the Mets All-Decade Team for the 2000s, beginning with catcher Mike Piazza, who played six seasons, stepped to the plate nearly 3,000 times and hit 157 home runs.

Sources say Washington Nationals, Matt Capps are close to one-year deal  —  The Washington Nationals are closing in on a one-year deal with Matt Capps, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.  —  Assuming the deal is completed, sources say that Capps — who was not tendered a contract …

Delgado's return to action delayed  —  Without seeing him play, club may have less interest in veteran  —  NEW YORK — The Mets' interest in Carlos Delgado, an interest that was not shared by all members of the club hierarchy after the season, may begin to wane now that the free agent has postponed his return to active baseball.

Dodgers President Dennis Mannion addresses state of the club  —  In a discussion of several topics, he says that the team's baseball and business decisions have not been impacted by the divorce proceedings between Frank and Jamie McCourt.  —  On Baseball  —  Randy Wolf never has been confused with Johan Santana.

Pittsburgh Pirates, pitcher Jack Taschner agree to minor-league deal  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed veteran left-handed reliever Jack Taschner to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.  —  The 31-year-old Taschner, who had a 4.91 ERA in 24 appearances …

Reliever Baez could be joining Phils  —  Club reportedly agrees to deal with mystery pitcher  —  PHILADELPHIA — General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said late last week that the Phillies probably would sign a reliever in a couple weeks, sometime after Christmas.  —  It will not be Fernando Rodney.

An option year on Lackey deal  —  The Red Sox built in a “conditional club option” at the minimum salary for the 2015 season into John Lackey's contract to protect them in case Lackey gets hurt, according to salary information obtained by Boston.com.  —  Highlights of Lackey's $82,791,426 deal include …

Raul Mondesi is a rising star again — in Dominican Republic politics  —  Like many sports stars who've become politicians in his home country, the ex-Dodger is as popular as ever, even if he doesn't have a firm grasp of the issues.  —  Raul Mondesi, shown in 2002 when he was a member …

Talk of 1969 still catching up to ex-Cub Hundley  —  Randy Hundley missed a turn on his way to Bloomington on Tuesday, delaying his arrival at a Young Men's Club luncheon.  Yet, “the question” stayed on his trail.  A minor detour wasn't going to keep it from following him to the Ozark House Restaurant banquet room.