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) …

Agent: Derek Jeter has huge value … NEW YORK — Derek Jeter's agent has fired back at the Yankees, saying that Jeter's value to the Yankees “cannot be overstated.”  —  Jeter's agent, Casey Close, made his statements Wednesday in response to the public posturing by the Yankees.

Mets pick up Reyes' $11 million option for 2011  —  New GM Alderson to consider contract extension for shortstop  —  NEW YORK — In what amounted to little more than a formality, the Mets on Wednesday exercised their $11 million 2011 option on shortstop Jose Reyes' contract.

Ryne Sandberg won't be back with Chicago Cubs next season  —  CHICAGO — After being passed over for the Chicago Cubs managerial job, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will not be back with the organization next season.  —  Sandberg, who managed the past four seasons in the Cubs' minor-league system …

Rangers Decline Guerrero's Option But Will Try To Re-Sign Him  —  The Rangers have announced they will not pick up the $9 million dollar option for next season on DH/OF Vlad Guerrero.  —  However, they do want try to re-sign him, and think that that they may able to do so.

Reds exercise options on Arroyo, Gomes; decline Cabrera, Harang  —  The Reds announced today that they exercised contract options for 2011 on Bronson Arroyo and Jonny Gomes, and did not exercise the options for Orlando Cabrera and Aaron Harang.  —  Right-hander Arroyo will get $11 million next season.

Oakland Athletics pick up Mark Ellis, Coco Crisp options, decline Eric Chavez's  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Athletics have exercised club options on second baseman Mark Ellis and outfielder Coco Crisp for next season, while declining an option on third baseman Eric Chavez.

Aramis Ramirez will return to Cubs  —  Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez informed the team on Wednesday that he has declined the option in his contract to become a free agent and will return to the Cubs in 2011.  —  Ramirez, who will be playing in the final year of a five-year …

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 …

Manufactured Runs  —  Replacing Replacement  —  This is something of a culmination of work I've been doing over the past few months—taking a menagerie of stats available here at Baseball Prospectus and merging them together under the heading of “Wins Above Replacement Level.”

Rockies still mulling over Olivo's option  —  Club will not pick up option on former ace Francis  —  DENVER — Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said on Wednesday the club is still contemplating whether to pick up catcher Miguel Olivo's $2.5 million option for 2011, as well as what the club's plan is for the position.

Albert Pujols: Hall of Fame bound  —  TOWER GROVE - Now that he's gotten that pesky 10-year requirement for service time out of the way, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols can go about the rest of his career followed everywhere with the adjective “Hall of Fame-bound” or some such derivative thereof.