Brian Cashman lands Javier Vazquez for New York Yankees as New York Mets still silent  —  Javier Vazquez has never quite lived up to the hype, going back to the first time the Yankees traded for him, six years ago.  In that 2004 season there was some feeling in the Bronx that Vazquez lacked toughness …

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.

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 …

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.

Mets fans' frustration grows as ‘Bay Watch’ hits Day 13  —  The Mets ask you to trust them.  They ask for patience, and for fortitude, for the benefit of the doubt.  They keep asking you for money, too, having now extended their deadline for renewing season-ticket plans from Dec. 4 to Dec. 14 to Dec. 31 …

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.

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.

Nats nearing deal with veteran reliever Guardado  —  Continuing an active offseason, the Washington Nationals are close to a contract agreement with free agent reliever Eddie Guardado, according to two sources.  The terms remain unknown, but it's almost certain that the 39-year-old lefty will get a one-year deal.

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.

Source: 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, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

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.