Beltre declines $10M option, will test free agency … BOSTON (AP) — Adrian Beltre has declined a $10 million player option that would have kept him with the Boston Red Sox next year.  —  The third baseman will get a $1 million buyout and becomes a free agent after just one season with the Red Sox.

Offseason, free agency could deliver more surprises … Many of baseball's best young players are locked up early in their career nowadays, limiting free-agent lists to lesser lights in some recent years.  But at least this year's free-agent market still contains a trio of players …

ESPN's Rubin Plays Games With Backman's Career  —  For the last 14 years, I have traveled inside, outside and around the many worlds of journalism.  Writing for the Associated Press for eight of them, working in terrestrial radio for three of them, and writing for magazines, the Internet as well.

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.

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 …

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.

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.”

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 …

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.