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 …

Braves' interest in Jones, Lowe is slight  —  Outfielder's game in question, while righty's price is too high  —  ATLANTA — To say the Braves have absolutely zero interest in Derek Lowe and Andruw Jones wouldn't exactly be accurate.  But their interest in these two players currently appears to be only moderate.

Yanks almost ready to unveil Teixeira  —  The Yankees are making plans for a press conference to fete new first baseman Mark Teixeira, perhaps as early as Tuesday, according to baseball sources.  —  Teixeira agreed to an eight-year, $180 million contract two days before Christmas.

Stoking the Hot Stove Fires  —  There was no bigger story in baseball last year than the Rays, as the Tampa Bay franchise, which had known nothing but futility since its inception in 1998, dropped the Devil from its nickname, changed its color scheme and its uniform, and then dramatically changed their losing ways.

Jones' career in jeopardy  —  • The Braves seemingly got to the 1-yard-line in their negotiations for Jake Peavy in November, reaching the point where they were haggling over the identity of the last prospects in the deal.  We don't know yet if Jeff Moorad's proposed deal to buy the Padres …

Prospectus Q and A: Tony Blengino by David Laurila  —  Tony Blengino … David Laurila: How would you describe your role within the Mariners' organization?  —  Tony Blengino: My role is basically to be Jack's right hand in player evaluation of all types, be it at the major league level …

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.

The most improved players  —  These seven teams made the right moves  —  Here's the consensus from a half-dozen scouts, general managers, and other officials concerning which lucky seven teams could improve in 2009:  —  1. Yankees - Money doesn't buy them a championship, but it's almost always bought them the postseason.

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.

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 …

Lawyer: Indiana girl earns right to try out for baseball team  —  BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A freshman girl would be allowed to try out for the Bloomington South baseball team under an agreement reached after her family filed a federal lawsuit over an Indiana High School Athletic Association rule …