Giants agree to terms with second baseman Durham  —  The San Francisco Giants and Ray Durham agreed to a two-year contract Friday that will pay the second baseman between $14 million and $15 million.  —  The 35-year-old Durham, a switch-hitter and two-time All-Star, is coming off his best season in years.

Glavine stays for $10.5 mil  —  When Tom Glavine first arrived home in Alpharetta, Ga., after the Mets' elimination from the NLCS, as he coached his son's baseball team, he told himself, "Life is so much easier here," and figured he'd sign with the Braves.  —  In the end, Atlanta GM John Schuerholz never bid for the 290-game winner.

Competition for Lilly heating up  —  Lefty has received offer from Cubs; Jays still in the mix  —  TORONTO — The race for Ted Lilly's services is heating up.  According to Lilly's agent, Larry O'Brien, the Chicago Cubs have put a four-year deal on the table in an attempt to lure the free-agent starter to the National League.

Rockies go south for pitching help  —  Lefty Rivera called the best pitcher in Mexico by O'Dowd  —  Oscar Rivera is considered the top young pitcher in the Mexican League.  —  The Rockies want to find out how that translates to the big leagues.  —  Colorado agreed to purchase the left-hander …

Only two Cards offered arbitration  —  No longer conceding a need for three or even two additional starting pitchers, the Cardinals on Friday offered salary arbitration to only two of their seven remaining free agents, lefthander Mark Mulder and their former righthanded Mr. October, Jeff Suppan.

Bucs try to fill holes at Winter Meetings  —  Littlefield eyes left-handed first baseman and outfielder  —  PITTSBURGH — While it's unlikely that the Pittsburgh Pirates will be involved in any blockbuster signings when the baseball world descends upon Orlando next week for the annual Winter Meetings …

Selig says he plans to retire - and he means it this time  —  NEW YORK (AP) -Bud Selig says he plans to retire as baseball commissioner in three years - and he really means it this time.  —  "My contract is going to be over.  I'm going to be 75 years of age.

Nats won't break bank in Orlando  —  Club looking to improve, but more focused on farm system  —  WASHINGTON — It's not a secret that the Nationals need to improve their pitching and defense.  They also need to add another power hitter after losing left fielder Alfonso Soriano to free agency.

Prime Yank seats will cost a bundle  —  The face value of the highest-priced Yankees ticket purchased on a game day next season will be a whopping $400, representing almost a 300 percent increase.  —  But though there are significant increases throughout the lower two levels …

Hicks hopes Zito, Rangers are a fit  —  Rangers owner Tom Hicks was impressed by Barry Zito, who visited Arlington on Thursday, and hopes the free agent left-hander will want to come back and put on a Rangers uniform in 2007.  —  "He's certainly the kind of guy we'd like to have in our organization," Hicks said.

Brewers extend offer to Graffanino  —  Milwaukee wrapping up free-agent arbitration efforts  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers took a calculated gamble late Friday night and offered salary arbitration to free-agent infielder Tony Graffanino.  —  Graffanino, acquired by Milwaukee in a July trade …