Source sees Yankees' pursuit of Manny Ramirez as front office splits  —  Are the Yankees preparing to give Manny Ramirez a happy homecoming?  —  The pride of Washington Heights remains one of the biggest names left on the free-agent market, and while it may take some time before the future Hall …

Pirates' options for Wilson trade dwindle  —  Dodgers, possibly last suitor, show no sign of fresh interest  —  It is shaping up as if the Pirates might not be able to trade Jack Wilson this offseason.  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers appeared to lose out on an attempt to re-sign free-agent …

It'll be 2-for-1 as Yanks to greet CC, A.J.  —  The Yankees shook up the free-agent market last week by committing $243.5million to a pair of pitchers they hope will start a winning tradition at the new Yankee Stadium.  —  But CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett will get one last look at the old ballpark Thursday …

Family says doctors misdiagnosed Rocco Baldelli's condition  —  GREAT NEWS FOR ROCCO BALDELLI.  A VISIT TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC LAST WEEK REVEALED THAT DOCTORS HAD MISDIAGNOSED HIS ILLNESS.  —  BALDELLI MISSED MUCH OF LAST SEASON, AND WHEN HE DID PLAY, HE WAS LIMITED BECAUSE OF EXTREME FATIQUE.

Mets would like Perez back, discussing Pedro  —  The Mets have two slots in their starting rotation to fill, and they know what they want to do with the more important one.  To replace Oliver Perez, who had become a vital pitcher, they want either Perez himself or Derek Lowe.

Fuentes waits, so Birds mull options  —  Increasingly impatient over talks that may have slowed to accommodate another suitor, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak vowed Tuesday he would not allow the pursuit of free-agent closer Brian Fuentes to “create a paralysis” within the club's search for pitching help.

Cubs, Yankees among several teams eyeing Lowe  —  The Cubs could become a landing spot for star free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe.  —  Chicago had been talking seriously to the Padres about trade target Jake Peavy for weeks until pulling out at the winter meetings, and some baseball people think discussions could be revived at some point.

Lackey set to pitch for U.S. in Classic  —  Angels righty excited about representing country in '09 event  —  ANAHEIM — Angels right-hander John Lackey said Tuesday that he plans on pitching for the United States in the World Baseball Classic in March.  —  Lackey has already started getting …

Development staff has five fresh faces  —  Former big leaguers Truby, Whitt to take Minors managing roles  —  The Phillies signed five newcomers to help out in the player development staff for the 2009 season, assistant general manager Chuck LaMar announced on Tuesday.

Aloha, Hawaii Winter Baseball  —  Unfortunately, this time aloha means goodbye.  I got some indication that this was coming during my time in Las Vegas, but today the hammer finally came down as the general managers voted to consolidate off-season leagues to Arizona, thus ending the three-year return of the Hawaiian League.