This is the Cubs year.  Really.  (cont.)  —  Williams about to extend his deal; Cashman may, too  —  Meanwhile, a coterie of GMs at the top of their field are cashing in with new contracts this fall.  Red Sox GM Theo Epstein recently agreed to a three-year deal for what is now believed …

Jays deliver pitch to A.J. Burnett  —  A.J. Burnett, in possibly his last game as a Jay, salutes the home crowd.  “It was storybook,” Burnett said of the sendoff on Sept. 24, 2008.  —  Team makes bold move with proposal to add two years, $30 million to righty's existing deal

Resilient Rays remember key moment  —  Recovery in Boston in early September vital for Tampa Bay  —  BALTIMORE — Flash back to Boston in early September if you want to remember how the Rays won the American League East.  —  The vultures were circling overhead, waiting to pick the carcass …

Cubs Change Course, Will Sit Zambrano  —  MILWAUKEE — Now, the Chicago Cubs won't start Carlos Zambrano in their regular-season finale Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.  —  Instead, it will be Angel Guzman, a Sept. 1 call-up who has appeared in only five games _ all Cubs losses _ and has a 7.04 ERA in 7 2-3 innings.

Mussina up in air about future, Jeter done for season  —  Mike Mussina said he has ot made up his mind about continuing to pitch.  He said at one point that if he did, going year-to-year would be best.  But at another point, he said if he's in for three, he might as well be in for three so he could try to get to 300 wins.

J.D. Drew backs out again  —  Pain leads to MGH visit  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  The saga of J.D. Drew [stats]'s bad back isn't close to ending.  —  Drew knew after Thursday's series finale against Cleveland that soreness would prevent him from playing …

Manuel pulls out ace in the hole  —  New York (88-72) vs. Florida (83-76), Saturday, 1:10 p.m. ET  —  NEW YORK — Jerry Manuel agonized over the decision for days, refusing to reveal his Saturday pitcher until after Friday's loss to the Marlins.  Little did anyone else know …

JETER CALLS BOMBERS' SEASON ‘A WASTED YEAR’  —  BOSTON - Derek Jeter sat at his locker as the rain came crashing down at Fenway last night and contemplated life without October baseball.  —  For the first time in his career, the man who always knows what to do on the baseball field does not know what to do with himself in October.

Pirates Notebook: Team to approach Mientkiewicz, Michaels about staying  —  SAN DIEGO — The Pirates have yet to approach key bench players Doug Mientkiewicz or Jason Michaels, each of whom can become a free agent this offseason, but general manager Neal Huntington said yesterday they plan to do so.

Mets line up greats for Shea finale  —  Seaver, Piazza, Mays among players expected Sunday  —  NEW YORK — The names are leaking out, rivaling the stadium itself with their scope.  Sunday's Shea Stadium farewell celebration will include appearances from Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Tom Seaver …

WFTS Baldelli report “erroneous”  —  A so-called “exclusive” report by WFTS- Ch. 28 that OF Rocco Baldelli has muscular dystrophy is “erroneous,” according to Dr. Allan Weiss, who has been treating Baldelli.  —  “The report is erroneous,” Weiss said in comments relayed through the team.