Cowlishaw: It's better to overpay for Cliff Lee than let him go to the Yankees  —  I don't make a habit of writing things that I am told “off the record.”  No one in this business does for very long.  —  But when it's this juicy, this good, I just have to make an exception.

Cubs Sign Carlos Pena  —  Carlos Pena and the Cubs have officially agreed to terms on a one-year deal believed to be worth $10MM, half of which is deferred.  —  Pena, 33 next May, saw his average slip below the Mendoza Line in 2010, totaling a line of .196/.325/.407.

Sox have more shopping left  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — After the huge splash that was the Adrian Gonzalez trade, do not be surprised if the Red Sox stand pat through the end of the winter meetings tomorrow, while carefully plotting their next move.  —  What we know is that the Sox …

Agent: Nationals still pursuing Carl Pavano  —  After twice meeting with Carl Pavano's representative this week, the Nationals “are still in the mix” to sign the veteran right-hander, agent Tom O'Connell said this morning.  Pavano, who will turn 35 in January, arrived yesterday at the winter meetings …

White Sox Re-Sign Paul Konerko  —  The White Sox reached an agreement with first baseman Paul Konerko on a three-year deal, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  The deal is worth $37.5MM, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  The contract includes deferred money, as outlined by MLB.com's Scott Merkin.

Mets add DJ Carrasco and Ronny Paulino, but under Sandy Alderson club is viewed as hot-stove joke  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - On the day that a trustee seeking to recover money on behalf of Bernie Madoff's victims sued Fred Wilpon, a National League executive who met with the Mets this week smirked …

Answer Man: Luke Scott talks Nugent, hunting and Obama origin  —  stopped by baseball's winter meetings Tuesday and, after some harmless chatter about his team's offseason dealings, stated with conviction that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.  —  Oh, yes, he did.

Marlins Gauging Interest in Nolasco and Nunez  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA — The Marlins are gauging interest at the winter meetings in pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Leo Nunez but are not committed to trading either.  They would have to be overwhelmed by any offers.  Still, in what is a decidedly weak year …

Ned Colletti says ruling in McCourts court case won't tie his hands  —  Dodgers general manager drives home the point by reaching agreements on one-year deals with free agents Tony Gwynn Jr. and Vicente Padilla.  —  Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti says the McCourt divorce will not have an impact …

Royals in no hurry to trade Greinke  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  Follow him on Twitter.  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.  —  The Royals are receiving “fair” trade offers for right-hander Zack Greinke …

Sabathia won't opt out  —  Tweet  —  TAMPA — CC Sabathia said whatever Cliff Lee pulls down won't lead to the Yankees' ace exercising an opt out clause in his contract after next year.  —  “It has no effect on me at all,” Sabathia told The Post yesterday when asked if Lee's projected windfall …

Kansas City Royals agree to one-year deal with Jeff Francoeur  —  Free agent outfielder Jeff Francoeur agreed to a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals, the team announced Wednesday.  —  The deal also includes a mutual option for the 2012 season and is pending a physical exam.

Setting the record straight on Hall of Fame vote for Miller … (Editor's note: The following story by Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci is a response to the erroneous report about yesterday's Hall of Fame Expansion Era voting.)  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. …

Iwakuma's agent says A's were ‘insincere’ with client  —  CBSSports.com wire reports  —  SENDAI, Japan — The agent for Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma says the Oakland Athletics were insincere after his client was unable to reach an agreement with the major-league team.

Agent seeks multiyear deal for Ordonez  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.  —  The current asking price for free agent outfielder Magglio Ordonez is at least two years at $10 million or more per season, a major-league source told FOXSports.com.  —  The Detroit Tigers have interest in retaining Ordonez, who turns 37 before Opening Day.

Deferred money in Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo's contract  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - It's becoming clear that the Reds are operating with a tight budget.  —  A good portion of Bronson Arroyo's salary for 2011 is deferred.  —  Arroyo was set to make $13 million under the option that the club picked up.

Diaz signing may make Doumit expendable  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Signing Matt Diaz may answer one offseason question in Pittsburgh.  But it's leading to speculation on another front.  —  By inking Diaz to a two-year deal that is expected to become official in the next few days …

2010 Major League Organization Of The Year  —  ORLANDO, Fla.—Brian Sabean, 14 years into his tenure as Giants general manager, comes across as the reclusive type.  His wardrobe consists largely of blacks and grays.  He keeps his circle of advisers tight and small, and believes …