Jeter Said to Be Asking $23 Million to $24 Million a Year  —  Derek Jeter's agent, Casey Close, is currently asking the Yankees to agree to a new contract of either four or five years at $23 million to $24 million a year, according to a person in baseball who had been briefed on the matter.

Twins Win Bidding For Nishioka  —  The Twins won the bidding for Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, according to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.  Christensen hears that the Twins won with a $5MM bid, but a source estimated to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the Twins bid roughly $5.3MM (Twitter link).

Wally Backman: Mets should've chosen me over Terry Collins for manager  —  Nearly a week later, Wally Backman is still having trouble coming to grips with the Mets' decision not to hire him as their new manager.  —  “I really thought I won them over,” Backman said by phone Friday from his home in Oregon.

Innings-eater Garland rejoins Dodgers  —  Veteran right-hander pitched for LA down stretch in 2009  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers further boosted an already formidable starting rotation on Friday by signing free-agent right-hander Jon Garland to a one-year contract with a vesting option for 2012.

Following the paper trail  —  Which teams have money to burn this winter?  It's not just the usual suspects  —  ESPN.com  —  Follow the money.  —  If your dad never gave you that advice, there's an excellent chance your wife is at the mall, maxing out your credit cards as we speak.

The Jose Reyes Rumor  —  This past weekend, Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle said Jose Reyes would be available in a trade, ‘but the Mets want a boat load in return for him.’  —  Last week on Sirius-XM, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said, while no player in considered 'untouchable …