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 …

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 …

Pelfrey, Ike, etc., if you're thinking Justin Upton  —  According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, rumors of the D-Backs fielding offers for OF Justin Upton are ‘more than just talk.’  —  That said, there are still plenty of people around the game who are skeptical of Arizona GM Kevin Towers …

Rockies trade Barmes to Astros for RHP Felipe Paulino  —  Longtime Rockies infielder Clint Barmes is a Rockie no more.  —  The club traded Barmes to the Houston Astros today in exhange for right-handed pitcher Felipe Paulino.  —  Paulino, 27, has spent all eight seasons in the Astros organization since …

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.

Yankees Acquire Scott Allen For Juan Miranda  —  It's no blockbuster, but Kevin Towers and Brian Cashman made a deal today.  The Yankees acquired right-hander Scott Allen from the Diamondbacks for first baseman Juan Miranda, according to a team press release.

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.

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 …

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 …

AFL names Stenson Award nominees  —  PHOENIX — The seventh annual Arizona Fall League Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award will be given out in an on-field ceremony at the championship game on Saturday.  On Wednesday, the six finalists were announced.  —  The manager and coaches from each team were asked to nominate one player.