Yankees likely to make Jeter first three-year offer this week  —  Tweet  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — The Yankees are planning to make a contract offer of at least three years to Derek Jeter very soon, perhaps before the end of this week, The Post has learned.  —  The Yankees had hoped Jeter …

Gardenhire wins award, set for contract extension  —  FORT MYERS, FLA. - After five second-place finishes, Ron Gardenhire finally won the American League Manager of the Year award Wednesday.  And he might find Thursday just as sweet.  —  According to Twins officials, the team plans to announce …

The market should open for Soriano  —  For being the best closer available on the free-agent market, Rafael Soriano hasn't generated much news this month.  —  But Soriano should try very hard to keep it that way, at least for the time being.  —  Soriano would do himself a great disservice …

Red Sox talks for Upton on ‘back burner’  —  FOX Sports  —  ORLANDO  —  The Red Sox, thought to be a possible front-runner in the Justin Upton trade discussions, are now on the “back burner,” according to major league sources.  —  Another unspecified team made a strong push …

Braves, Turner Field good fits for Uggla  —  Atlanta gets some power at second base with a great track record at its ballpark  —  The Atlanta Braves made the first big strike of the offseason earlier this week, acquiring (some would say stealing) second baseman Dan Uggla from the Florida Marlins …

Blue Jays On Verge Of Acquiring Rajai Davis  —  The Blue Jays are on the verge of acquiring outfielder Rajai Davis from the Athletics, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Minor league reliever Trystan Magnuson is one of the players heading to Oakland in the deal, MLBTR has learned.

Albert Pujols: The First $40-Million Man  —  It looks like the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols are looking to sign an extension that will keep him in St. Louis for life.  Jon Heyman writes that Albert Pujols is looking for a contract similar to Alex Rodriguez's ten-year, $275 million deal that he signed with the Yankees in 2008.

Results of today's Manager Poll on MetsBlog  —  I know Jeff Wilpon, Sandy Alderson, and more or less every one working at the Mets, is aware of how some fans feel about Backman.  Also, it should be noted that ‘some’ fans want Backman, not all.  The thing is, wisely, they're …

Josh Willingham unlikely to receive extension  —  The Nationals have three options this offseason with left fielder Josh Willingham, who is entering his final year of arbitration and will be a free agent following the 2011 season.  They could sign him to a multi-year contract extension …

Little opposition to expanded playoffs  —  ORLANDO, Fla. — Little opposition has emerged to Major League Baseball expanding its playoffs for 2012 as the sport's top officials discussed the concept during two days of meetings.  —  While commissioner Bud Selig has yet to formally propose adding …

Phillies ink local southpaw to Minor League deal  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are looking for a reliable, proven left-hander in their 2011 bullpen.  —  Keep an eye on names like Hisanori Takahashi, Pedro Feliciano, Brian Fuentes and Arthur Rhodes — all of whom are available.

Report: A's offer Adrian Beltre a five-year, $64 million deal  —  Oakland has wasted little time making moves this offseason, bidding $17 million for the negotiating rights to Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma, trading Vin Mazzaro and Justin Marks to the Royals for David DeJesus …