Loaded Sox primed to make major move  —  NAPLES, Fla. — Seating arrangements at the general managers meetings typically place the White Sox' Ken Williams next to the Cubs' Jim Hendry.  Every year, the crosstown rivals scribble ideas and pass notes like a couple of school kids.

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 …

SHEA IT'S SO  —  YANKS EYEING HILLENBRAND  —  Shea Hillenbrand's rickety reputation isn't scaring the Yankees away in their search for a right-handed hitting first baseman.  —  According to industry sources, the Yankees have Hillenbrand high on their list.

Prospectus Today  —  The Money of Matsuzaka  —  Fifty-one point one.  If this had been "The Price is Right," we'd all be standing there dumbfounded as Bob Barker tells us that no one is anywhere close to the right answer and we have to start again.  —  Fifty-one point one million dollars.

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 …

Rays turning focus to Japanese talent  —  By winning the negotiating rights for Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura, the Devil Rays took another step toward becoming a player in international markets.  Long dormant under the organization's past ownership, Tampa Bay's plan to create …

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.

Astros make offers to two free-agent outfielders  —  Soriano, Lee are Purpura's top targets; talks for Williams ongoing  —  NAPLES, FLA. - Promising to be aggressive in their pursuit of free agents in the offseason, the Astros have made contract offers to the top two sluggers on the market …

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 …

Slashing Payroll May Be No Bargain  —  If the Florida Marlins or the Pittsburgh Pirates had made the trades, they would be called salary dumps.  So let's call it what it is, even though it was the Yankees who made the trades.  It was a salary dump by the Yankees, of all teams.  Or was it?

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.