No deal for Youkilis  —  Kevin Youkilis and the Red Sox will not reach a long-term contract agreement this offseason, said Joe Bick, Youkilis's agent.  Youkilis and the team have discussed a possible long-term contract this winter, but the sides currently stand too far apart for a deal to be finished before the 2009 season.

Derek Lowe closing in on deal with Mets  —  According to a baseball source, The New York Mets appear to be closing in on a deal for free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe.  —  The deal is believed to be four years in length, or three years with a vesting option.  The contract is estimated to be worth between $14-16 million per season.

Teixeira signing may mean end of Andy Pettitte in pinstripes  —  For the past few weeks, I've been wondering what Andy Pettitte is waiting on in not accepting the Yankees' one-year, $10 million contract offer.  The chances are good now that he has waited too long.  As of midday no final decision had been made.

Brewers Owner Suggests Salary Cap After Yankees Sign Teixeira  —  A A A  —  Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) — Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said Major League Baseball may need to impose a salary cap to preserve competition after the New York Yankees spent $424 million to sign three players.

Dragons lose new manager  —  DAYTON — Jamie Dismuke, who was to manage the Dayton Dragons this summer, has instead taken a job as hitting coach for the Class AAA Gwinnett (Ga.) Braves in the Atlanta Braves organization.  —  “It's a better situation for me,” said Dismuke …

Padres sign three pitchers to stock staff  —  Ex-Giant Correia to vie for rotation spot; infielder Rodriguez returns  —  SAN DIEGO — Limited by a tight budget, Padres general manager Kevin Towers said a week ago that he hoped to restock his pitching staff with a few free-agent bargains in the weeks leading up to Spring Training.

3 UP: Happy Holidays, Healthy New Year and Teixeira  —  I will use this space to apologize to my wife one last time.  I think this is now the fifth day in nine vacation days, so far, that I have worked.  It is just that the darn baseball news, especially out of the Bronx, doesn't stop.

Dickey's decision: Better opportunity with the Twins  —  The Seattle Mariners offered R.A. Dickey potentially better money than any other team in 2009, but the greater opportunity to pitch in the big leagues was more important.  —  That's why Dickey, the knuckleball pitcher who spent …

The last at-bat at Yankee Stadium … It was just before one o'clock in the morning on Sept. 22, but the scoreboard clock was frozen at 12:21.  The last game at Yankee Stadium was over, Sinatra had finally stopped singing New York, New York, and organist Ed Alstrom was playing Goodnight, Sweetheart.

The baseball ethicist: Why nobody signed Barry Bonds  —  I had been gleefully anticipating the 2008 baseball season for one additional reason than the usual ones: no more Barry Bonds.  For an ethicist, the astounding volume of invalid rationalizations put forth to excuse, tolerate …

New York Times Looks to Sell Red Sox Stake  —  Seeking to fortify its core assets, New York Times Co. is actively shopping its stake in the holding company of the Boston Red Sox baseball club, according to two people familiar with the discussions.  —  The Times Co., which faces …

Nelson to the Rays  —  Reliever Joe Nelson is a Tampa Bay Ray.  —  On Wednesday, the right-hander, whom the Marlins non-tendered, agreed to terms on a one-year deal for $1.3 million.  —  Nelson was contacted by 20 teams after the Marlins parted company with the 34-year-old reliever …

Markakis declines invite to Classic  —  With baby due in March, outfielder tells paper he's staying home  —  BALTIMORE — This time, the Orioles won't lose their best player to the World Baseball Classic.  Right fielder Nick Markakis told The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday that he has declined …