Dawson earns long-awaited Hall call  —  Alomar, Larkin, Blyleven fall short in BBWAA voting  —  NEW YORK — Andre Dawson is this year's sole electee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it was announced on Wednesday.  —  Dawson, an outfielder, made it on his ninth try.

A few notes from Cashman  —  After the Hall of Fame announcement, I checked in with Brian Cashman.  The Yankees general manager confirmed a report that Sergio Mitre has avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year deal for next season.  Jerry Crasnick says it's worth $850,000.  It's a non-guaranteed deal.

AP source: Cards will pay Holliday through 2029  —  NEW YORK (AP) -The St. Louis Cardinals will be paying Matt Holliday through 2029 under the $120 million, seven-year contract that is likely to be finalized Thursday.  —  Holliday will get $17 million a season in salary …

Brewers' Hot Stove action may cool  —  After busy December, Crew looks to keep payroll flexibility  —  MILWAUKEE — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is back to work after a holiday break, but his December aggressiveness means he could be less active in January.

Girardi's staff intact for Yanks' 2010 run  —  Coaches all set to return as club defends championship  —  NEW YORK — The coaching staff that helped Joe Girardi secure the Yankees' 27th World Series title will be back in the dugout for the 2010 season.  —  New York announced on Wednesday …

Center Fielders On Royals' Radar  —  ESPN's Jerry Crasnick names three free agents on the Royals' radar for center field: Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik, and Randy Winn.  It should be noted that none of the three logged 500 innings in center in '09.  Crasnick's source doesn't see the Royals spending …

Astros decide to pass on Chapman  —  GM Wade would rather make investment in multiple players  —  HOUSTON — Astros general manager Ed Wade got an up-close look at Cuban phenom Aroldis Chapman during a private workout in Houston on Dec. 15 that was arranged by his agents and came away impressed …

With Holliday gone, who are the best remaining free agents? … Funny free-agent market.  At its top, it's very good.  —  Just ask stars Matt Holliday, John Lackey and Jason Bay.  They all cashed in big-time.  And that's not such a shock.  —  But at the bottom, it's pretty darned rewarding, too.

Minors system continues to fuel Sox  —  Prospects allow team flexibility to acquire veteran talent  —  CHICAGO — As the White Sox Minor League director, Buddy Bell understands how part of his job responsibility is to get talented players within the system ready to contribute at the Major League level.

The Big Unit bids farewell  —  In the coming days, people throughout baseball will pay homage to Randy Johnson, who is announcing his retirement today.  They'll talk about his power, his ferocity, his toughness.  They'll recall his pitch to John Kruk in the All-Star Game, and how he helped put Seattle baseball on the map.