Mets, Rangers kick tires on Sox pitchers  —  NAPLES, Fla. — This and that from the last day of baseball's general managers meeting:  —  While one Mets executive discounted reports of their interest in Javier Vazquez (a favorite of general manager Omar Minaya from their time together in Montreal) …

Blue Jays sign DH Frank Thomas  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have signed designated hitter Frank Thomas to a two-year contract worth $18 million dollars with an option for the 2009 season.  —  Thomas, 38, spent the 2006 season with the Oakland Athletics batting .270 with 11 doubles, 39 home runs and 114 RBI.

Team counting on Jacobs at first  —  NAPLES — Since Wes Helms won't be returning, the Marlins are prepared to give Mike Jacobs another shot at being the team's full-time first baseman in 2007.  —  Jacobs, who came into 2006 as the starter, wound up splitting time with Helms because of a sore right ankle.

Manny might be a bargain at $17M  —  NAPLES, Fla. - The chances of the Red Sox making another offseason blockbuster move - trading Manny Ramirez, in particular - remain slim, but they did increase at the general managers meetings, which concluded yesterday.  —  GMs are realizing there is a lot …

Phillies pitch to Soriano  —  Waiting for response after informing free agent of interest  —  NAPLES, Fla. - Talk is cheap.  Signing free agents isn't.  —  And somewhere in the middle is where the Phillies find themselves after meeting with free-agent outfielder Alfonso Soriano at a hotel near …

GLAVINE '50-50'  —  STILL TORN BETWEEN METS AND BRAVES  —  All-Star left-hander Tom Glavine, who isn't signed yet and who has said he'll pitch for the Mets or Atlanta, told The Post yesterday he is not leaning toward Shea Stadium or Turner Field.  —  "I would say right now it's a pretty solid 50-50 …

Spiezio will return  —  Scott Spiezio reached the Cardinals last February with a red soul patch, a nonguaranteed contract and a need to remind the sport that his career had not ended in the 2002 World Series.  —  Thursday, Spiezio reached agreement with the Cardinals on a two-year …

Acta is the antithesis of Robinson … A Washington Nationals player was late to the ballpark for a game last summer.  When he finally showed up in the dugout in the fourth inning, he didn't even tell manager Frank Robinson that he had arrived.  Why?  Because he was afraid of what Robinson might say or do.

EXECS: ZITO WILL END UP A MET  —  NAPLES, Fla. - Eight execu tives were queried as they departed the GM Meetings yesterday on where they thought free agent Barry Zito would end up, and five predicted the Mets.  —  Omar Minaya would not comment on either that perception or on where his club stands with Zito.

Giants sizing up costly free agents  —  Sabean looking at Soriano, Lee  —  As one measure of how tilted toward players this free-agent market has become, the representative for Ted Lilly, a career 59-58 starter who has interest in San Francisco, said he could get on the phone today and snag …

Cy for Santana, Chien-Ming 2nd  —  For the second straight year, a Yankees pitcher was the runnerup for the AL Cy Young Award.  —  Chien-Ming Wang capped a tremendous breakout season by finishing behind only two-time unanimous selection Johan Santana in baseball writers' voting released yesterday.

Ringolsby: When playoffs begin, they can get wild  —  NAPLES, Fla. - The Minnesota Twins have won four division titles in the past five years.  They haven't made it to the World Series, however, since 1991.  They haven't even gotten out of the first round of the playoffs, other than 2002.

Rockies likely to lose Jennings as vaults open  —  Naples, Fla. - On Monday night, a comedian provided after-dinner entertainment for the general managers.  Even free, he wasn't funny, setting the tone for a week that became more humorless with each free-agent contract.

Local dealmakers assembling bids for Cubs  —  (Crain's) — Some of Chicago's top dealmakers are readying buyout offers for the Chicago Cubs in anticipation that the team will become available as a result of a takeover or breakup of its owner, Tribune Co.  —  At least two local businessmen …