PEREZ TO YANKS, LOWE TO METS FINISHING TOUCHES FOR WINTER  —  THERE remains one final major move for the Yankees to make.  Same goes for the Mets.  —  The Yankees still have a hole in their rotation.  This has been an incredibly prosperous offseason for the Yankees and GM Brian Cashman …

Sources: Dodgers hope to move cheaper Jones  —  A month ago, Andruw Jones was considered untradeable within the baseball industry.  Now that his contract has been restructured, to make him more affordable to any interested suitors, the Dodgers intend to weigh his market value again, according to baseball sources.

Questions about sale of Padres to Moorad  —  • There has probably been more blatant lying during this year's hot stove league than in any in recent memory, on the part of some club officials and some agents.  So are the Giants really interested in Manny Ramirez?

Penny ante  —  Sox pay for talented arm, hoping to hit jackpot  —  A year ago, Brad Penny was coming off the best season of his career, one that landed him third place in the Cy Young Award voting, and an Opening Day start for a Dodgers team that would go on to the postseason.

Marquis, arbitration will hike payroll  —  Arbitration is recession-proof.  The Rockies' payroll will increase slightly next season from $68 million to roughly $73 million with the acquisition of Chicago Cubs starter Jason Marquis and the salary increases of their six arbitration-eligible players.

Hot Stove: Pirates, Coonelly support cap  —  But team president's plan is to win within current system  —  Add the Pirates to the small — but growing — list of Major League Baseball teams publicly speaking in favor of a salary cap.  —  Team president Frank Coonelly …

Meet Your New Fanhouse Columnist ... Jay Mariotti  —  Starting Monday, Fanhouse will add ex-Chicago Sun-Times columnist and venerable Around The Horn noisemaker Jay Mariotti to its stable of writers.  Fun for the whole family.

The amazing year of Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon still not done  —  Joe Maddon walks across Pennsylvania Avenue tonight for the latest great adventure in his remarkable year.  —  Leading the Rays all the way to the World Series, getting married and honeymooning in Europe …

Tim Cowlishaw's top local performers for 2008  —  Three Dallas Cowboys - Ware, Witten and Romo - among the 12 players  —  Before we roll into 2009, let's say goodbye to a lousy 2008 season in local professional sports.  —  The Rangers missed the playoffs for the ninth straight year.

Where are they now?  Former Met Anthony Young  —  Fans sent Anthony Young all sorts of good-luck talismans while he was enduring his infamous losing streak - four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, rabbit's feet.  One woman gave him her treasured $2 bill.  Psychics called the Met offices offering aid.

Being a Cardinal “made my career happen,” says Aaron Miles  —  TOWER GROVE — In a few days, newly-minted Chicago Cubs infielder Aaron Miles will have a reunion of sorts at a charity event with the manager that made him a millionaire.  He expects the worst.

Roberts to the “other” Chicago?  —  Brian Roberts always seems to be linked to the Chicago Cubs in trade rumors, but White Sox general manager Kenny Williams loves the guy and is trying to acquire him.  —  The two sides have discussed former Mount St. Joe pitcher Gavin Floyd as a starting point in trade talks.

Stop the madness, please  —  Things that drive me crazy:  —  The Joba debate: Why does this still continue in some quarters?  He had a 2.76 ERA in 12 starts last season.  He struck out 74 batters in 60 innings.  He's a really, really good starter and he's 23.