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, some 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 …

Nats' first-base focus likely shifts to LaRoche  —  Team's top target at position Pena appears headed to Chicago  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Nationals continue to look for a first baseman and starting pitcher.  —  Two executives outside the Nationals' organization believed the club …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 Determining Interest In Nolasco, Nunez  —  The Marlins are gauging interest in Ricky Nolasco and Leo Nunez, though they aren't committed to trading either pitcher, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.  Nolasco is two years away from free agency and was discussing …

Public Sniping in Talks Left Jeter Feeling Angry  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The news conference had just ended.  Television spotlights fell dark, and reporters dispersed.  Derek Jeter still lingered behind a podium, where Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, a general partner of the Yankees, wrapped him in a lengthy embrace.

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 …

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.

Van Horne named Frick Award winner  —  Longtime broadcaster is Marlins' lead radio voice  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Dave Van Horne, the longtime announcer for the Marlins, won the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in Major League Baseball broadcasting, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday.

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.