Teams starting to make pitches  —  Just as the Red Sox were announcing a new $40.5 million contract for Dustin Pedroia yesterday, baseball's sputtering offseason finally began to whir.  The pitching market began to develop, and the price appeared to be going up.

Detroit Tigers acquire SS Jack Wilson from Pirates  —  It seems to be the week for shortstop roulette on the Hot Stove, and the latest is that the Pirates have sent Jack Wilson to the Tigers.  —  The teams had been in discussions for a while, but according to a person familiar with the deal, it is done.

3 UP: Putz Made Available, Bradford and Baldelli  —  1. A rumor was floated yesterday that the Mets are working on a blockbuster that would net them both Bobby Jenks and Jermaine Dye from the White Sox, with top prospect Fernando Martinez going to Chicago.  Talked to a few Met officials who called it nonsense.

Shortstop Greene heading to St. Louis  —  The Padres and Cardinals have agreed to a trade that will send shortstop Khalil Greene to St. Louis.  —  The Padres are expected to get pitching in return for Greene, but this move appears to be more about moving Greene's $6.5 million salary in anticipation of a much smaller payroll in 2009.

Braves make offer to free-agent pitcher Burnett  —  GM Wren wouldn't discuss terms, but offer believed to be four years with option for fifth year  —  The Braves have made an offer to free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett, who is considered the second-best starter available this offseason behind CC Sabathia.

Dodgers are worrying about infield first  —  The Dodgers have questions all over the infield.  That's why Ken Rosenthal says there's a bigger priority than Manny or CC.

Reds sign Lincoln to two-year deal  —  While the Rockies are moving methodically in their search for relievers, a few have come off the board over the last few days.  The Cincinnati Reds signed right-handed free agent Mike Lincoln to a two-year, $4-million deal accoding to contract information obtained by The Denver Post.

Tough call coming for Manny  —  The last time that the agent for Manny Ramirez spoke with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, Barack Obama was on television in the background, making his acceptance speech on the night he was elected president.  Since then, the Dodgers withdrew that two-year, $45 million offer to Ramirez.

Braves complete Vazquez deal  —  Veteran starter returns to NL East in trade with White Sox  —  ATLANTA — The Braves had their eyes on Javier Vazquez for a long time, all the way back to when he pitched for the Montreal Expos, who no longer exist.  But Vazquez is still pitching, and at last …

The Howry signing  —  Continuing their quest to upgrade their bullpen, the Giants signed Bob Howry to a one year, $2.75 million contract today.  That Howry had to settle for such a modest deal shows how much power ERA still has in determining pitcher value in the marketplace.