Twins Look for Yanks to Up Ante for Santana  —  The Yankees insist they have gone as far as they are willing to go in their trade offer for Johan Santana, the ace left-hander of the Minnesota Twins.  Their chances of getting him depend on whether the Twins insist on receiving another top prospect in the deal.

Pirates look to move Nady, one way or another  —  If trade fails, team could decline to offer contract  —  The Pirates are prepared to trade outfielder Xavier Nady.  —  And, if they cannot do so within the next few days, according to one official with direct knowledge of their plans …

Winter meetings can run hot or freeze up  —  Melvin working to get best bargains during off-season  —  As newly crowned "Dancing with the Stars" champion Helio Castroneves can attest, it takes two to tango.  —  Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin will be looking for a dance partner …

No surprise: No arbitration for Andruw  —  Before Frank Wren, Bobby Cox and the rest of the Braves' party of 15 or so heads off to Nashville on Sunday for the Winter Meetings, the team basically snipped the last thread of hope that even the most optimistic Andruw Jones fans had of having the center fielder back with Atlanta in 2008.

Maybe Reyes ought to be touchable  —  Of all the assets Lastings Milledge brought to the Mets, none will be missed nearly as much as his speed.  —  I refer not to his time in the 90-foot dash but to the amazing speed with which his status plummeted from Untouchable to Undesirable.

O'Dowd isn't expected to make a splash  —  General manager planning to be smart shopper at winter meetings  —  Beginning Monday, the lobby of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., will buzz with trade rumors.  Agents will schmooze and promote their clients.

Notes: Cuba's Ramirez draws attention  —  Lara progressing; No arbitration for Lofton, Nixon or Gomez  —  CLEVELAND — The stateside free-agent market has withering value for a club that can ill-afford to engage in spending wars.  So the Indians have made efforts in recent years to find talent through other avenues.

Trade of Cabrera might be more 'when' than 'if'  —  Ask Marlins officials about the future of third baseman Miguel Cabrera and the answer is a swift and curt "no comment.''  —  But the team's marketing campaign already is sending a strong signal to fans that the four-time All Star won't be around next season.

It's a deal ... or is it?  —  Folks roll in to Nashville's Opryland resort by the bus loads to see the country Christmas displays, but baseball's general managers could put on a pretty good show of their own this week at the annual winter meetings.  Faced with an overpriced …

Pettitte, Gagne offered arbitration  —  NEW YORK (AP) — On a deadline day that has lost much of its importance, major league teams offered salary arbitration Saturday to 17 of their former players who became free agents, a group that included outfielder Aaron Rowand and pitcher Livan Hernandez.

Sources: Padres, Wolf have deal in place  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 23 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Padres, taking a chance on a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery, have reached a preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf on a one-year contract, according to major-league sources.

Rays Sign Percival To Be Team's Closer  —  ST. PETERSBURG - From the first day of spring training next February, there will be no mixing and matching or closer-by-committee in the Rays' bullpen.  —  According to Manager Joe Maddon, the ninth-inning job belongs solely to new addition Troy Percival.