Bill Mueller retires, takes front office job with Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES - Former AL batting champion Bill Mueller, limited to 32 games with the Dodgers last season before undergoing what turned out to be career-ending knee surgery, retired Friday and will serve as a special assistant to Los Angeles general manager Ned Colletti.

Daniels optimistic about Padilla  —  ARLINGTON — General manager Jon Daniels spent the week in the Florida resort city of Naples but didn't have much time to sit on the beach or by the swimming pool.  —  He barely even had time to get out of the hotel or even look out a window.

GM Williams up in arms  —  Williams fired up over 'misleading' report that Sox are set to deal for Angels' Santana  —  White Sox general manager Ken Williams emphasized pitching and defense Friday as areas in need of improvement for the White Sox this off-season.

Brave new world, or back at Shea?  —  Mets, set to decline option as promised, believe Glavine will decide after Thanksgiving  —  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 …

Glavine, Zito on Omar list  —  Omar Minaya returned from the GM meetings in Florida with several smaller items scratched off his winter to-do list.  He now can focus on making decisions about the bigger names on the Mets' radar, including free agent Barry Zito and waffling incumbent Tom Glavine.

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.

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.

Padres' Waller dropped after 19 years with team  —  Another longtime Padres employee is departing the organization.  —  First-base coach Tye Waller, who spent 19 years with the Padres, said he is seeking a job with another franchise after being told by manager Buddy Black he is being replaced.

Eldred in the groove for championship  —  First baseman riding five-game hit streak into league playoff  —  Grand Canyon's Brad Eldred saw his average plummet to .170, while his massive 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame generated just one homer and three doubles over 13 games.

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] …

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 …

Cops: L.A. farmhand charged with crack  —  UNION CITY - A minor league baseball player who had been suspended for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs was in trouble again Thursday after Union City cops caught him with 130 bags of crack cocaine, reports said.

GM MEETINGS NOTES  —  Rangers relegated to minor players  —  NAPLES, Fla. - Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and the rest of the Texas contingent were among the last to leave the GM meetings.  —  The Rangers had no juicy announcements to make like the Toronto Blue Jays or Boston Red Sox.