Beltre officially declines option for 2011  —  Not that this will come as any surprise, but a Major League source told the Globe that Adrian Beltre officially informed the Red Sox he has declined his $10 million option for 2011.  —  By virtue of reaching 640 plate appearances (he finished with 641) …

Hal Steinbrenner wants Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera back with Yankees in 2011, but at right price  —  Hal Steinbrenner wants Derek Jeter back in pinstripes next season.  Just not at any cost.  —  The Yankees' managing general partner did a pair of radio interviews Tuesday …

Coco Crisp's option is being picked up by the A's  —  Behold the future of baseball reporting: Coco Crisp tweets his own contract status, telling the world that the A's are picking up his option.  He says he's happy about it.  Of course, in the very next tweet he says he's happy …

Giants won World Series despite draft failures  —  The San Francisco Giants have their own stupidity to thank for their first World Series title.  —  It's true.  If the Giants didn't run their organization in such boneheaded fashion in the early part of this century, they wouldn't have pig-piled …

Mets will interview Wally Backman, Chip Hale for manager after hiring J.P. Ricciardi in front office  —  New Mets general manager Sandy Alderson spent his first full day in his Citi Field office Tuesday beginning to schedule managerial interviews and announcing a high-profile front office acquisition in J.P. Ricciardi.

Carton: Moss In NJ Tuesday; Reports Say No Claim Made  —  NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) - According to WFAN's Craig Carton, Randy Moss was in New Jersey Tuesday meeting with members of the Jets.  —  “Randy Moss, I've learned, was in Boston Monday, and was in New Jersey yesterday.

Mets reduce ticket prices for 2011  —  Full Range of Adjustments Includes Average Price Decrease of 14% from 2010  —  Season Ticket Holders to Receive 10% Discount Off of Lower 2011 Prices, Increased Exclusive Benefits and Services, Unique Experiences  —  The New York Mets today announced …

AFL set for Rising Stars Game on Saturday  —  Now's your chance to see them before they hit the big leagues.  The Arizona Fall League, haven to some of the best upper-level prospects in baseball, will hold its fifth annual Rising Stars Game at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT) on Saturday.

Former Major League Manager Clyde King Dies  —  GOLDSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Clyde King, whose baseball career as a player, coach, manager and front-office man spanned six decades, has died in North Carolina.  He was 86.  —  Wayne Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Amy Cain said King died Tuesday in Goldsboro …

Braves exercise options on Gonzalez, Infante  —  Club inks Proctor, declines deals for Farnsworth, Ankiel  —  ATLANTA — After losing their tightly contested Division Series battle against the eventual world champion Giants, there wasn't any reason to wonder if the Braves …

Reds Exercise 2011 Option For Bronson Arroyo  —  The Reds officially exercised their 2011 option for Bronson Arroyo, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).  GM Walt Jocketty said last month that he would pick up the option, so the decision was expected.

Sparky Anderson is seriously ill  —  Tom Gage of the Detroit News tweets what is easily the saddest news I've heard in a while: Former Reds and Tigers manager Sparky Anderson is seriously ill, and is in hospice care.  According to his family he's suffering from “complications resulting from dementia.”

Infection sidelines prospect Jackson for year  —  CHICAGO — Outfielder Brett Jackson, the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick in 2009 who had been playing in the Arizona Fall League, is done for the year after being hospitalized with a bacterial infection in his right shin.

Peers choose Jocketty as MLB's top executive  —  CINCINNATI — The architect of the Reds' first playoff berth in 15 years and their first winning season in a decade, general manager Walt Jocketty was recognized Wednesday as the 2010 Sporting News MLB Executive of the Year.

Your introduction to the Hardball Times Annual  —  The Hardball Times Annual 2011 has been put to bed, which means that it's been sent to the printer and will start shipping soon.  I'm pretty excited about this year's book, and I'll be posting about it for the next couple of weeks.