Expect Sox to break bank for Teixeira  —  Here's a prediction: By the time this is over, win or lose, the Red Sox effectively will have made Mark Teixeira the largest contract offer in the history of your storied franchise.  —  Preposterous, you say?  Clearly, you have not been paying attention.

Source: Yankees RHP Mussina decides to retire  —  As expected, New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina has decided to retire, according to a baseball source with knowledge of the situation.  Mussina informed the Yankees last week he would give them a decision by the end of this week.

Brewers Blog  —  The Journal Sentinel sports staff brings fans the latest news and inside dope on the Brewers  —  Giants getting in on Sabathia  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  An agent familiar with the situation told me today that he heard the Giants are interested in signing CC Sabathia.

Tribe names Hernandez bullpen coach  —  Spent past three seasons as pitching coach in Detroit  —  CLEVELAND — The Indians are still sorting through their bullpen options for next season, but they have settled on a coach for the relief corps.  —  As announced Wednesday …

A modest proposal  —  How the Yankees can solve their third-base problem  —  The Yankees need a plan at third base.  What they have now isn't working.  —  Things were so much better when Scott Brosius was around.  That's a third-base plan.  Third basemen who put up on-base percentages …

Major League Baseball likely to change, not ban, maple bats  —  By Ray Glier, Special for USA TODAY  —  Major League Baseball's Safety and Health Advisory Committee is scheduled meet in New York on Friday to discuss the routine shattering and exploding of bats during the 2008 season.

Leitch: The Unfortunate Legacy of Pedro Martinez  —  Remember when Pedro Martinez was to be the savior of the Mets?  Now the Mets don't even want him back.  Pedro's contract, signed in 2004, is off the books, and while he claims he wants to come back, the Mets don't seem to have room for him in the rotation.

MLB says Tribune sets Dec. 1 deadline for Cubs bids  —  NEW YORK - Bidders for the Cubs have until Dec. 1 to submit offers, Major League Baseball said Wednesday after a meeting of its ownership committee.  —  Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said representatives of four bidders …

Astros' 40-man roster grows by three  —  Houston purchases contracts of Bogusevic, Manzella and Sutton  —  The Astros purchased the contracts of outfielder Brian Bogusevic, shortstop Tommy Manzella and second baseman Drew Sutton on Wednesday, adding the Minor League prospects to the 40-man roster …

Teixeira interested in playing for Nats  —  Maryland native intrigued by idea of returning home  —  WASHINGTON — It has been reported several times that the Nationals have interest in signing free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.  MLB.com has learned that the feeling is mutual …

Zumaya's rehab affects Tigers' moves  —  Club looking for relief help with righty's status for '09 uncertain  —  DETROIT — Joel Zumaya gave the Tigers a triple-digit fastball route to respectability when he went from the Minor Leagues to the back end of Detroit's bullpen at age 21.

Prominent hitters who may swing it in '09 or call it a career … The Hot Stove season is off to a fine start for Ryan Dempster, Jeremy Affeldt and Eri Yoshida, the 16-year-old female knuckleballer who was drafted by a Japanese League club this week.  And life is good if your name happens to be CC Sabathia …