For Valentin, 2nd run with Mets  —  Jose Valentin's surprise performance for the 2006 Mets has earned him another year in Flushing.  —  The Mets have agreed with Valentin on what is believed to be a one-year contract for a substantial raise - to roughly $3 million - pending a physical …

Hot stove notes from the winter meetings  —  NAPLES, Fla. - Notes from the general managers' meetings:  — Third baseman Aramis Ramirez actually is guaranteed $75 million in his new five-year deal with the Cubs, not the $73 million that was initially reported.

Despite the dollars, Red Sox' pursuit of Matsuzaka makes sense  —  NAPLES, Fla. — A plethora of no comments and no answers have been the norm the past few days when Red Sox personnel have been asked about Daisuke Matsuzaka, a possible sign that where there's smoke, there's fire …

Prospect of Acta has players excited  —  Patterson among those familiar with reported new skipper  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals right-hander John Patterson was pitching for the Licey Tigers in the Dominican Winter League in 2004, and he said to himself that his manager, Manny Acta …

Baseball GMs gather in Fla. for meetings  —  NEW YORK —With the free-agent market open for business, major league general managers gathered in Naples, Fla., for their annual meetings.  —  Aramis Ramirez decided not to pursue the free-agent market, agreeing Sunday to a five-year …

Willis' fate could be decided soon  —  Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis has spent his off-season getting ready for one of the biggest moves of his life: He's getting married next month.  —  But a wedding might not be the only change in store for him this winter.

Humidors attract attention of general managers  —  Naples, Fla. - Like Kenny Rogers, Major League Baseball is determined to get a better grip on its baseballs.  —  Before arriving Sunday at the general managers' meetings, Joe Garagiola Jr. met with team equipment managers last week to determine how teams store their baseballs.

Towers has needs, and also leverage  —  The Padres' Kevin Towers today departs for baseball's general managers meetings in Florida appearing more empowered than in his 11 previous offseasons as GM.  —  Given about $30 million in payroll relief, Towers has enhanced spending ability …

Rookie Race Too Close to Call  —  Nats' Zimmerman Has the Numbers, but So Do Others  —  If the waves are right and it's not too cold, you might find Ryan Zimmerman off the coast of Virginia Beach, wetsuit wrapped around his body, surfboard under his feet.  If the rain holds off and the breeze …

Gwen Lawrence's "Power Yoga For Baseball" … WasWatching: What was the driving force for you behind the concept of applying yoga to baseball conditioning?  —  Gwen Lawrence: I have been a practicing fitness professional since 1990.  I started teaching yoga in 1998 and became involved with local athletic teams shortly thereafter.

It's the ... IRONPIGS  —  Lehigh Valley's minor league baseball team selects a nickname  —  By Daniel Patrick Sheehan Of The Morning Call  —  After 3,500 contest entries, 10,000 online votes, 10 focus groups and plenty of second-guessing, it came down to this:  —  The Lehigh Valley IronPigs.