YANKS TO GO AFTER MANNY, TEIXEIRA  —  According to several baseball officials, the Yankees remain in the Mark Teixeira hunt.  But the same connected voices insist if the Yankees don't land the switch-hitting first baseman, they will turn their money toward controversial slugger Manny Ramirez.

Yanks improve rotation, keep young talent  —  The winter obsession last year was Johan Santana — and the Yankees or the Red Sox could have had him.  They could have traded for the accomplished left-hander who was about to turn 29.  But what folks in both front offices decided was that the double-barreled cost was prohibitive.

Teixeira to attend Ravens game  —  Free agent first baseman and Severna Park native Mark Teixeira will be a guest of Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos at today's Ravens-Steelers game, according to ESPN.  —  Orioles fans have been desperate for any sign of hope with the organization …

Okajima completes 6-hour Honolulu Marathon  —  It really is a marathon, not a sprint.  —  Under rainy and wet conditions, Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima completed today's Honolulu Marathon in 6:10:26 (gun time).  —  Okajima, who turns 33 on Christmas Day, was among 23,000 runners …

Francisco Rodriguez from the mountain top  —  CARACAS, Venezuela - The harrowing series of switchbacks snakes upward, winding past secluded mansions in the Alta Hatillo section of Caracas, a scene that could be straight out of the HBO hit show “Entourage.”  —  High up in these hills …

Melky-Cameron talks to intensify tomorrow  —  The Yankees and Brewers are expected to intensify talks tomorrow concerning the Mike Cameron for Melky Cabrera swap.  Brewers aren't against taking Kei Igawa in the deal but want the Yankees to swallow a substantial part of the $12 million owed the left-handed bust.

Mets should consider a reunion with Wigginton  —  Wow, what a week in Las Vegas that turned out to be.  If we had been there any longer, the Mets might have signed Trevor Hoffman to be their seventh-inning reliever and the Yankees, in the interest of making CC Sabathia more comfortable …

Many big bats remain available for Tampa Bay Rays  —  Leaving Las Vegas, the Rays felt pretty good about their chances to add a big-name big bat to their lineup.  They have reason to feel even better now that Raul Ibanez has agreed to a reported three-year, $30-million deal with the Phillies.

Farnsworth, Royals agree to deal  —  Two-year, $9.25 million contract includes club option for 2011  —  The Royals' bullpen now has its hard-throwing right-hander.  —  Kansas City announced on Saturday that it had agreed to terms with Kyle Farnsworth on a two-year, $9.25 million deal that includes a club option for 2011.