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.

Brave new world, or back to Shea for Glavine?  —  Despite their efforts to the contrary, the Mets can do nothing but wait for Tom Glavine to become a free agent Monday when the team, as promised, declines its $14-million option on the two-time Cy Young winner, a person familiar with the situation said Friday.

Save This Franchise!  Episode I: Baltimore Orioles  —  It took me a few weeks and considerable amounts of therapy, but I've finally accepted that baseball's 11th-best 2006 team will be hoisting a championship banner come April.  Additionally, I've preemptively decided to ignore …

Angels may want Drew as their center fielder  —  Dodgers fans who are upset about J.D. Drew's decision to opt out of his contract last week might not have to travel far to express their displeasure with the outfielder.  The Angels, according to industry sources, are interested in signing Drew to play center field.

The Red Sox May Have Just Made Insanity the Norm  —  Baseball is an old sport, and it doesn't change all that often.  This week's news that the Boston Red Sox have secured the rights to negotiate with Seibu Lions pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka for the fairly outlandish sum of $51 million represents real change.

Grand timing  —  Thin list of free-agent pitchers makes Matsuzaka a good bet  —  You wonder if Godfrey would have been as upset if a team from any division except the American League East had wound up with the rights to Matsuzaka.  —  "They, obviously, have bottomless pits [of money] …

Notes: Focus returns to rotation  —  With Thomas signed, arms once again top priority  —  TORONTO — Now that Frank Thomas can officially be fitted for his Big Hurt-size Blue Jays jersey, it's time for Toronto to turn its attention back toward its pitching staff.

Sox trade Cotts to Cubs for Aardsma, prospect  —  NAPLES, Fla. — No one has been busier at the general managers meetings than the Cubs' Jim Hendry — and for good reason.  —  ''We won 66 ballgames,'' Hendry said Thursday.  ''We darn sure better be aggressive.''

Phils ink free agent Helms  —  Infielder signs for two years with option for third season  —  PHILADELPHIA — A day after opening discussions for free-agent prize Alfonso Soriano, the Phillies officially announced their new most-of-the-time third baseman.  —  Wes Helms, 31, agreed to a two-year …

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.

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.

EXECS: ZITO WILL END UP A MET  —  However, one NL executive said he thought the Marlins might be willing to part with a young starter such as Scott Olsen or Josh Johnson in exchange for Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli to solve their center field needs.  If Florida considered Lastings Milledge …

Hot Stove: Big market for Manny's bat  —  Boston may pull off trade for slugger if right deal comes along  —  The annual Manny Watch has started to flicker.  —  As sure as leaves fall in October, there are always rumors of left fielder Manny Ramirez's departure from the Boston Red Sox.

Owens finishing AFL season strong  —  Late start doesn't keep outfielder from showing promise  —  It might have taken a few weeks, but it looks like Jerry Owens is hitting his stride just as the Arizona Fall League season comes to a close.  The 25-year-old center fielder arrived late …

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: