Bidding war is on deck  —  Japanese ace on way  —  TOKYO - Daisuke Matsuzaka was so enamored by Major League Baseball, the Japanese righthander made a special trip to the United States to watch the Yankees and Braves meet in the World Series seven years ago.  Next season he plans to return, this time as a big leaguer.

Drug violation nets Mets pitcher Mota 50-game ban  —  NEW YORK — Relief pitcher Guillermo Mota was suspended 50 games on Wednesday for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy.  —  The 33-year-old Mota, who finished the season with the Mets and filed for free agency Tuesday, was 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA this season.

Donnie: I need to learn  —  No guarantees, but as bench coach he is in line to succeed Torre  —  Don Mattingly's promotion to bench coach solidifies his status as Yankees manager-in-waiting, but he stressed yesterday he's not counting on getting it just yet.

Pirates' AAA Skipper Is Latest to Interview  —  The Washington Nationals have interviewed yet another candidate for their open managerial job, talking to Trent Jewett, the manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates' Class AAA affiliate, about becoming Frank Robinson's replacement.

No Sheff delight (cont.)  —  Dombrowski will stay  —  Tigers owner Mike Ilitch knows when he's got a good thing, and he isn't about to let president and general manager Dave Dombrowski go to the Cubs.  Dombrowski & Co. — his baseball people Al Avila, John Westhoff and Scott Reid …

A's add two more to managerial search  —  Black, Acta scheduled for official interviews for open job  —  OAKLAND — A day after interviewing the second man on their list of managerial candidates, the A's added two more names to that list.  —  Having spoken with their internal candidates …

Burnitz may retire after Pirates decline $6M option  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates declined their $6 million option Wednesday on spare outfielder Jeromy Burnitz and will pay him a $700,000 buyout that allows him to become a free agent — though he might retire.

Ortiz latest Nat to file for free agency  —  Righty says he'd like to stay in D.C., but odds are 50-50  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals right-hander Ramon Ortiz filed for free agency on Wednesday, bringing the total of Nationals free agents to five.  Left fielder Alfonso Soriano …

Detroit Tigers Free Agents  —  With Sean Casey filing for free agency yesterday, three Tigers have now filed.  The other two are Jamie Walker and Matt Stairs.  These players are still the property of the Tigers at this time but will be free to negotiate with any team starting 15 days …

Jeter's no MVP  —  Captain's lack of leadership sank Yankees' hopes  —  Now that baseball's postseason is over, the individual awards will soon be handed out, including the American League MVP.  Boston's David Ortiz and a trio of Twins, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Johan Santana …

Astros dealing with matters of the heart … Business is business, and Astros owner Drayton McLane has better ways to spend his grocery distribution money than on a 38-year-old first baseman — especially one with an arthritic right shoulder that makes the baseball feel like a shot put every time he throws it.

Getting Matthews tops Giants' to-do list  —  The Giants are making free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. a top priority this winter, believing he can energize the top of the lineup and bring a dynamic presence to an outfield defense that was among the worst in the major leagues this year.