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.

Frandsen might bump Durham  —  The Giants typically don't give opening-day jobs to unproven players, but infielder Kevin Frandsen is forcing the organization to take notice.  —  Frandsen's performance in the Arizona Fall League has the Giants leaning toward giving him a shot at second base …

At last, there may be a market for Manny  —  For years, the reason the Red Sox couldn't trade left fielder Manny Ramirez was simple — no team wanted to absorb Ramirez's contract.  —  The bigger problem now is that the Sox likely couldn't replace Ramirez with a worthy right-handed complement to David Ortiz.

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.

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 …

Mueller retires, joins front office  —  Dodgers also closing in on multiyear deal for Garciaparra  —  LOS ANGELES — Bill Mueller became the highest-paid special assistant to the general manager in Dodgers history Friday when he was forced to retire as a player and joined the front office.

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?

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 …

Comparison Fun  —  You know I think the free agent market is nuts.  You know I support acquiring talent via trade instead of paying these prices.  You may not know that there really are good deals to be found, even in this sea of insanity.  For instance, look at this comparison of left-fielders:

IronPigs fightin' words for biker club  —  Organization says baseball team owners infringing trademark.  —  By Jeff Schuler Of The Morning Call  —  What's the difference between Iron Pigs and IronPigs?  —  A lot, if you're Lehigh Valley's baseball team.  Not so much if you're an international motorcycle club based in Texas.

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 …

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.

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.

Would Glavine return without no-trade clause?  —  Just when you thought you'd heard enough _ maybe more than enough _ about Tom Glavine's pending decision to pitch next season for the Mets or the Braves (assuming Atlanta makes him an offer), let me point out a factor that's been entirely overlooked.