Angels' attention shifts from Mark Teixeira to CC Sabathia  —  Club is in discussions with the free-agent pitcher and could offer him a contract that approaches the $140-million offered by the New York Yankees.  Source says the Angels are reluctant to guarantee more than seven years to Teixeira.

Padres' plans being put on hold  —  Peavy situation keeping Towers from addressing team's needs  —  SAN DIEGO — The lack of progress in a deal involving pitcher Jake Peavy has had a significant effect on the Padres' ability to address their other roster needs this offseason.

CANO WORKING HARD, DROPPING WEIGHT  —  While they wait for CC Sabathia to decide if $140 million is worth the headaches created by the spotlight that always scorches the Yankees, the club is jazzed about Robinson Cano's new body.  —  “I was as impressed with what he looks like as I have ever …

LENNY GETS A WALK  —  EX-MET DYKSTRA SETTLES 139G LAWSUIT  —  Former Met center fielder Lenny Dykstra worked himself out of a jam yesterday, settling a lawsuit over an unpaid $139,000 bill from a Midtown accounting firm.  —  The scrappy former leadoff hitter known as “Nails” …

Brian NcNamee and lawyers give evidence in Roger Clemens probe  —  Agents from the FBI came to New York in September to collect cheek-swab DNA samples from Brian McNamee and his lawyers as part of the ongoing investigation into whether Roger Clemens perjured himself before Congress.

Yankees open 2009 Major League Spring Training schedule on Feb. 25  —  Ticket prices remain the same as last season  —  The 26-time World Champion New York Yankees announced today they will open their 2009 Major League Spring Training schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 1:05 p.m. vs …

Novice pitchers from India sign with Pirates  —  Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh, cricket players who had not picked up a baseball until April, on Monday became the first athletes from India to sign professional baseball contracts, agreeing to deals with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

MADGE A-ROD'S TURKEY CHOICE  —  ALEX Rodriguez has his priorities - and they are not his children.  —  The Yankee slugger, who ditched his wife of six years, Cynthia, after becoming besotted with Madonna, is a “soul-less” man who is “abandoning” his kids on Thanksgiving for his lover, according to what Cynthia is telling friends.

Astros' lone move could be at catcher  —  If rotation comes together, team would have few holes to fill  —  If the Astros can re-sign pitchers Randy Wolf and Doug Brocail, they may be satisfied with making nothing more than a small splash in the offseason market.

St. Louis Cardinals talk with free agent Arthur Rhodes  —  The Cardinals may not have an immediate heir in place for closer Jason Isringhausen's role, but they continue to woo relievers who will handle the innings leading up to the ninth.  —  As they iron out a deal with lefty reliever Trever Miller …

Hurdle tabs Baylor to fix hitting woes  —  The Rockies got their “Groove” back Monday.  —  Don Baylor, nicknamed “Groove” for a quote given when he was a 21-year-old prospect with the Orioles, returned to Colorado as the club's hitting instructor.  —  This isn't a public relations ploy, manager Clint Hurdle insisted.

Piniella's to-do list  —  Says Cubs' top priority is left-handed bat for middle of lineup, also would like to add an experienced reliever  —  Cubs manager Lou Piniella has had almost two months at home in Tampa, Fla., to fish, ride his bicycle around his neighborhood and envision changes to his third rendition of the Cubs.

Should Ryan Howard Try To Strikeout Less?  —  You might think so.  In both 2006 and 2007 he led the major leagues in “contact average.”  I define that as hits divided by (AB - K + SF).  His contact average in 2006 was .448 and in 2007 it was .421 (although it fell to .372 in 2008).

Mel Stottlemyre, Lee Elia not returning to Mariners coaching staff  —  Mel Stottlemyre and Lee Elia will not be part of the coaching staff of new Mariners' manager Don Wakamatsu, The Seattle Times has learned.  —  Stottlemyre, 67, served the 2008 season as Mariners' pitching coach after a 10-year stint with the Yankees.