Yankees' Cashman to sign three-year deal  —  Brian Cashman has agreed to return as the Yankees general manager on a three-year contract, Newsday has learned.  —  Cashman deliberated over the decision about whether it was time to move on after 11 seasons as GM, but gave the Yankees an affirmative answer this afternoon.

After Yankees' ‘insult,’ Torre in a golden state with Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES — Joe Torre stood in the Dodger Stadium infield, looked up at the fans screaming in jubilation, and slammed his eyes shut to stop the tears.  —  This is what it feels like to be appreciated again.

JOBA'S SHOULDER BEARS WATCHING  —  For the second time inside of two months, Joba Chamberlain experienced discomfort in his valuable right shoulder Sunday at Fenway Park.  —  According to several people, Chamberlain said the shoulder was tight after exiting the first game of the doubleheader …

The Dodgers have the best offense of any NL playoff team  —  Don't believe me?  I don't blame you.  The Dodgers scored 4.32 runs per game in the regular season, well below average.  But there are a few problems with looking at that figure.  First, the Dodgers are not the same team today that they were in April.

Lee, Lidge earn Comeback Awards  —  Tribe ace, Phillies closer easily outdistance competition  —  Cliff Lee, who was the American League leader in wins and ERA, and Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge, who converted 41 of 41 save opportunities to help the Phillies win a second consecutive National …

Sox want a ‘blackout’ for Tuesday  —  For one-game tiebreaker, team urging fans to wear all black  —  CHICAGO — A blackout coming in a city the size of Chicago usually leads to more than a fair share of worry and maybe a few dire circumstances.  —  That blackout takes on a completely different meaning …

Angels' K-Rod, Reagins should lead awards parade  —  The baseball award winners this year should include Frankie Rodriguez (but not for the award you might think), along with Ryan Braun, Cliff Lee, Tim Lincecum and Tony Reagins.  —  Recommend  —  And the winners are ...

Red Sox Nation beginning to wear thin  —  OK, I'll give the Red Sox the whole nation thing.  —  Hard not to after following Boston through the playoffs last year and watching the throngs of faithful who always seem to show up no matter where they're playing.

D-Backs found ways to lose this year  —  The easiest way to put it, when assessing the disappointment of the Diamondbacks season, is to call them underachievers - to say that the overachieving bunch that last year found ways to win somehow found ways to lose this year.

METS  —Sign free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Darren Oliver.  Bullpen sanity starts with an elite closer like K-Rod, while Oliver was a good long relief guy and popular teammate with the 2006 Mets.  Bid farewell to Luis Ayala, Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez and Scott Schoeneweis.

Letter to a Rookie  —  San Diego, CA.  92101  —  Dear Will,  —  The other day I received an e-mail from a writer who had interviewed me a couple of years ago for Black History Month.  We'd kept in touch, and he was writing to inform me of your promotion to the major leagues.

Texas Rangers' Daniels shakes up coaches  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  A day after the Texas Rangers finished the season with the worst ERA, fielding percentage and the most catching errors in the majors, they made changes in all three areas.  —  Bench coach/infield instructor Art Howe …

Maddux trade keeps on giving  —  With Dodgers in playoffs, San Diego handed two top prospects  —  SAN DIEGO — Pitcher Greg Maddux's ability to help the Los Angeles Dodgers win the National League West Division has actually helped the Padres.  —  Because the Dodgers advanced to the NL Division Series …

Home, sweet home  —  A.J. Pierzynski relishes the chance to face the Twins at U.S. Cellular Field instead of at the Metrodome and its artificial surface.  —  “You can ask Minnesota how much of a different team they are at home,” Pierzynski said.  “It won't be a concrete home plate like it was in Minnesota …

Brewers go with Gallardo  —  According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers are going to throw young righty Yovani Gallardo against Cole Hamels in Game One on Wednesday.  A very interesting move.  Stuff wise, this guy is probably the second-best pitcher on the staff.