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.

Cliff Lee talks to heat up next week  —  Executives involved in the bidding for Cliff Lee believe the negotiations will gather momentum in the week ahead, perhaps to a point where the All-Star left-hander will choose his next employer sometime during the winter meetings that start Dec. 4.  —  Lee

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.

The Orioles' Preparation For The Rule 5 Draft  —  Baseball's annual Rule 5 Draft is an often forgotten source of talent.  It's designed to help players that are stuck in the minor leagues, perhaps blocked by a superstar like Albert Pujols or Evan Longoria, reach the big leagues with a different organization.

Inbox: What is the plan for right field in 2011?  —  With Jayson Werth all but gone, what's the contingency plan in right field?  —  The Phillies have been talking with agent Scott Boras about a deal, but it is believed he is seeking something similar to the seven-year, $120 million contract Matt Holliday scored last winter.

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).