Report: Yankees call Cliff Lee's agent  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees called Cliff Lee's agent Sunday on the first day of the free-agent negotiating period to say they will be back in touch with an offer for the top pitcher on the market, a baseball official familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press.

Wally Backman feels good about Sandy Alderson meeting, who will also see Terry Collins, Chip Hale  —  Sandy Alderson already has said he doesn't expect the Mets to make a huge splash in the free-agent market that opened at 12:01 Sunday morning.  —  Instead, the recently hired GM continues …

If the Yankees can't lure free agent Cliff Lee to the Bronx, Brian Cashman's Plan B is a bit iffy  —  The apparent internal decision by the Yankee high command to turn the bulk of the catching duties over to their Venezuelan slugging prospect, Jesus Montero, next year tells us two things …

Connor agrees to be Orioles' pitching coach  —  It's official, well, official without being announced by the team.  Mark Connor will be the Orioles' new pitching coach, replacing Rick Kranitz, whose contract expired and has moved on to the Houston Astros as their minor league pitching coordinator.

Source: Mets to interview Red Sox coach DeMarlo Hale for manager's job  —  BOSTON - Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale is among the candidates to be the next manager of the New York Mets, according to a source.  —  Hale, 50, also interviewed for the Blue Jays manager position earlier …

Photos - Citi Field Tour  —  I recently went on a tour of Citi Field.  The tour consists of a visit to the Mets Clubhouse, Field/Dugout, Press Box, Sterling Suite Level, Empire Suite Level, the Mets Hall of Fame and more.  The tour is about an hour long and cost $10 for adults, $7 for kids under 12 and $7 for seniors (60+).

Heyman: Mets Spending Big On Executives  —  As Andrew Vazzano of The 'Ropolitans pointed out via Twitter, perhaps a heavy investment in front office talent will lead to a better investment strategy in player personnel...  eDaPS  —  This is so moronic. “big money on execs rather than players”?

Busy offseason is ahead for Cardinals  —  Full contact free agency officially opens today.  Any team may now contact any representative for any free agent.  The Cardinals accordingly have prepared their shopping list.  —  A talented but thin club that just left an unfulfilling 86-win season behind believes …

Chiba Lotte captures Japan Series title  —  Another professional baseball championship series went in the books on Sunday, this time in the Far East, as the Chiba Lotte Marines topped the Chunichi Dragons, 8-7, to win the Japan Series.  —  Chiba Lotte, which finished the regular season …

Anderson's homer wins Rising Stars Game  —  After a frenetic first three innings gave way to a nail-biter, Leslie Anderson ended the 2010 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game with a walk-off solo homer in the ninth Saturday night in Surprise, Ariz.  —  The tie-breaking homer …