Sources: Tigers owner OKs two-year, $14M offer to Damon  —  Fox Sports  —  Tigers owner Mike Ilitch has authorized a two-year, $14 million offer to free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to major-league sources.  —  Damon also is considering a one-year, $7 million proposal from the Tigers, one source said.

Glavine retires, takes job with Braves  —  Lefty accepts position as special assistant to team president  —  ATLANTA — Tom Glavine has officially ended his playing career and reunited with the Braves' organization.  —  The Braves have announced that Glavine has accepted the invitation …

Big Hurt decides to call it a career  —  Longtime White Sox star Thomas is 18th on home run list  —  The Big Hurt is calling it a career.  —  Longtime White Sox star slugger Frank Thomas, who is tied for 18th on the all-time Major League home run list with 521, told MLB.com on Thursday evening that he is officially retiring.

Phil Hughes looking to be Yankees' 5th starter  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Pitching out of the bullpen, Phil Hughes helped the New York Yankees win the World Series last season.  This year, he hopes to make another championship run as the team's fifth starter.  —  Hughes and Joba Chamberlain …

Four Reasons Teams Are Staying Away from Jermaine Dye  —  We would like to welcome Joe Pawlikowski to the FanGraphs team.  We don't hold his Yankee fandom against him, and neither should you.  —  When Jermaine Dye finally decides to call it a career, his post-baseball life will likely not include a job in sales.

Mets Agree to a Deal With Another Japanese Pitcher  —  Since 1997, when they signed an obscure reliever out of the Japanese minor leagues, the Mets have had more players from Japan than any other major league team.  That international connection remains strong as the Mets added …

Rangers prospect Danny Gutierrez suspended 50 games for testing positive for amphetamine Adderall  —  RHP Danny Gutierrez, whom the Rangers acquired from Kansas City last fall, has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for a banned substance.

Big Ten making overtures to ... Texas  —  Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, right, celebrates a victory with head coach Mack Brown near the end of a 51-20 win against Kansas, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, in Austin.  —  A source with ties to the Big Ten said that while most people's attention …

Giants, Lincecum still in negotiations  —  The Giants are taking their negotiations with Tim Lincecum down to the wire.  With an arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday, the sides have discussed parameters for a multiyear contract.  —  A major-league source said the Giants have made a three-year …

The Eyes Have It  —  Joe Paterno  —  After surgery to correct his vision, legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno no longer has to wear his trademark thick-lens glasses.  —  The most famous eyewear in college football is a thing of the past.  —  Sort of.

Tony Blengino on how the Mariners use statistics  —  I've been saving this one for more than two weeks now, ever since the Mariners had their spring-training luncheon in late January.  There was a flood of information that day, followed by a flood of news.  But now I finally …

The Firstbase Situation  —  More photos » Charlie Riedel - AP  —  After signing Mike Jacobs to a minor-league contract, the Mets will enter Spring Training with 5 firstbaseman, who, if not exactly in a competition, all have some shot at the major league roster.